Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Man Sentenced To 96 Months, $1.69M For Cocaine Distribution

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Manuel Emilio Payano, age 42, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was sentenced to 96 months imprisonment and 3 years supervised release for Possession With Intent To Distribute Cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2. The court entered an order imposing a money judgment in the amount of $1,697,400.00. The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The Indictment alleged that on or about October 16, 2017, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine a Schedule II controlled substance.

United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “Because of the diligent efforts of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the DEA, hundreds of thousands of dosage units of illegal narcotics were prevented from reaching their intended destination. These law enforcement agents disrupted the unlawful and dangerous business of a drug trafficking organization. I commend these agents and the members of this office for their work and continued dedication to public safety.”

The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Dean Burris represented the United States. The defendant will remain in custody pending transportation to the designated federal facility at which the non-paroleable sentence will be served.