Kennie Santos-Payano Gets 51 Months for Cocaine Haul on I-12

Kennie Santos-Payano, 26, of Kissimmee, Florida, is headed to federal prison after being caught with 8.5 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride during a routine traffic stop in St. Tammany Parish. The bust, which unfolded on Interstate 12 in Madisonville, Louisiana, ended with a swift K-9 alert and a major narcotics seizure. Today, Santos-Payano was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute.

The arrest dates back to September 25, 2019, when a Louisiana State Police trooper pulled over Santos-Payano’s vehicle for a traffic violation. Driving eastbound on I-12 and alone in a car registered to Florida, Santos-Payano immediately drew suspicion. The trooper, trained to detect signs of criminal activity, called in backup and a trained drug detection K-9 unit to conduct a free air sniff around the vehicle.

The dog didn’t hesitate. It alerted within seconds to the presence of narcotics. That green light triggered a full search of the vehicle—under the authority of the initial traffic stop and canine alert. Hidden inside, investigators uncovered 8.5 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride, a stash with street value likely in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The evidence sealed Santos-Payano’s fate.

United States District Court Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon handed down the 51-month sentence, emphasizing the severity of large-scale drug distribution. In addition to prison time, Santos-Payano will serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his term. He was also ordered to pay a $100 mandatory special assessment. No fines were assessed in the case.

The investigation was a joint operation between the Office of Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana State Police—a frequent collaboration in interdiction efforts along Gulf Coast trafficking corridors. Interstate 12, a known artery for drug movement from coastal ports to inland markets, continues to be a priority for law enforcement targeting narcotics smuggling.

Assistant United States Attorney Bayonle Osundare prosecuted the case, underscoring the federal government’s hardline stance on drug trafficking. Santos-Payano now joins the growing ranks of out-of-state traffickers intercepted in Louisiana while attempting to move bulk narcotics. The message from law enforcement is clear: the interstate won’t be a free pass for cartel supply chains.