NEWARK, N.J. — A key figure in South Philadelphia’s infamous “10th and O Crew” was sentenced to six years in federal prison on Monday for orchestrating a large-scale oxycodone distribution ring, federal prosecutors announced.
Michael Procopio, 50, admitted to leading a criminal conspiracy from January 2022 through February 2024 to illegally distribute prescription opioids, primarily oxycodone, throughout the Philadelphia region. His sentencing took place in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey following his June 2024 guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
According to court records, Procopio sourced prescription pills from local medical practices and coordinated their illicit distribution through a network of intermediaries across South Philadelphia. Federal investigators say he concealed quantities of oxycodone, Adderall, and other drugs in a hidden safe inside a hollowed-out dictionary at his residence, which was raided by law enforcement in February 2024.
During the execution of the search warrant, Procopio reportedly acknowledged his role in the criminal enterprise, stating, “Take me to jail,” and, “I f***ed up.”
Using federal sentencing guidelines, authorities determined that the 14,925 milligrams of oxycodone Procopio admitted to distributing equated to 80 to 100 kilograms of converted drug weight — a significant volume that underscores the scope of the conspiracy. Under these guidelines, one gram of actual oxycodone is treated as equivalent to 6,700 grams of converted drug weight due to its potency.
Prosecutors described Procopio as a leader within the “10th and O Crew,” a South Philadelphia-based criminal organization known for its long history of violent and drug-related activity. In addition to the drug charges, Procopio has a prior felony conviction for sexual assault in Pennsylvania, court documents revealed.
“This defendant led a criminal crew that funneled dangerous prescription drugs from doctors’ offices to the streets of Philadelphia,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, who leads the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Whether it’s fentanyl or prescription oxycodone, the unlawful sale of opioids is devastating communities, and the Department of Justice remains committed to dismantling these networks.”
The investigation into Procopio’s drug trafficking operation was led jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Philadelphia Field Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Field Division. The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit also played a key role in the case.
Trial Attorneys Paul J. Koob and Nicholas K. Peone of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case under the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program — an initiative launched in 2007 to crack down on complex fraud schemes that exploit public health programs.
Since its inception, the Strike Force has charged more than 5,800 defendants across 27 federal districts with crimes related to over $30 billion in fraudulent claims to federal and private health insurers.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, continues to implement measures to identify and penalize healthcare providers complicit in illegal drug distribution and related fraud.
