Previously convicted felon sentenced to 14 years in prison for gun, drug crimes

CINCINNATI – Da’Quan Payne, 30, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 170 months in prison for committing five federal crimes related to firearms and narcotics.

According to court documents, Payne possessed nine firearms, approximately $194,000 in cash, and distributable amounts of fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana. He had nearly $158,000 in cash in his home.

In June 2019, agents from the Norwood Drug Task Force, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Cincinnati Police Department launched an investigation into Payne’s suspected drug-trafficking activity.

They conducted five law-enforcement controlled purchases of fentanyl from Payne. During those purchases, law enforcement observed Payne carrying a firearm. As a previously convicted felon, Payne is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

Investigators learned that Payne kept some of his supplies in storage lockers. During a search of Payne’s storage units, law enforcement discovered eight of Payne’s nine firearms, along with fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine. Payne was also storing more than $24,000 in cash in the lockers.

A search of Payne’s vehicle revealed the ninth firearm, more than $12,000 in cash and various narcotics.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders.

Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Kent Kleinschmidt, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost; Norwood Police Chief William Kramer and Interim Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge announced the sentence imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly K. Rossi is representing the United States in this case.

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