ALBANY, NY – Samuel Payano, 24, of Amsterdam, New York, is facing a lengthy prison sentence after admitting to a wide-ranging drug conspiracy and illegal firearm possession. Payano pled guilty today to charges stemming from a year-long investigation that uncovered a network dealing in deadly fentanyl pills, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
According to federal prosecutors, Payano conspired with Bernardo Tovar from May 2022 to December 2022 to distribute the counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl. The operation wasn’t limited to pills; the pair also pushed cocaine and methamphetamine onto the streets. Payano’s involvement didn’t stop at conspiracy. He directly distributed fentanyl pills and a firearm to an individual on October 12, 2022, adding a significant escalation to the charges.
The bust came down on December 7, 2022, when agents executed a search warrant on an apartment shared by Payano and Tovar. Inside, investigators found a stash of fentanyl pills, cocaine, methamphetamine, and two firearms. The discovery cemented the case against both men and highlighted the dangerous combination of drugs and weapons fueling the illicit trade.
U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman, alongside Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New York Division, and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s New York Field Division, announced the guilty plea. The collaborative effort between the agencies underscores the federal commitment to dismantling drug trafficking organizations and stemming the flow of fentanyl into communities.
Payano’s sentencing is scheduled for September 6, 2024, before Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes in Syracuse. He’s looking at a minimum of 10 years behind bars and potentially life in prison. A hefty fine of up to $5 million could also be levied, alongside a minimum of four years – and potentially a lifetime – of supervised release after serving his sentence. The final decision rests with Judge Sannes, considering sentencing guidelines and the specifics of the case.
This isn’t the first conviction in this case. Payano’s co-conspirator, Bernardo Tovar, previously pled guilty and is already serving a 181-month prison sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping is leading the prosecution, aiming to hold those responsible for flooding the streets with deadly drugs accountable for their actions. The investigation was a joint effort by the DEA and ATF.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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