NEWARK, NJ — A leader of South Philadelphia’s violent “10th and O Crew” was sentenced to six years in federal prison for orchestrating a wide-ranging conspiracy to distribute prescription opioids, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday.
Michael Procopio, 50, pleaded guilty in June 2024 to conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances. Between January 2022 and February 2024, Procopio led an operation to obtain and illegally sell oxycodone pills sourced from medical offices in the Philadelphia area.
According to court documents, Procopio used a network of intermediaries to traffic the drugs. A search of his home earlier this year uncovered oxycodone, Adderall, and other substances hidden in a safe concealed inside a hollowed-out dictionary. At the time of the search, Procopio reportedly told agents, “Take me to jail” and “I f***ed up.”
The sentencing took place in the District of New Jersey, where federal authorities brought the case due to the scale and scope of the drug conspiracy. The total amount of oxycodone Procopio admitted to distributing equaled 80 to 100 kilograms of converted drug weight under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Leader of violent street crew convicted felon
“The defendant led a criminal ‘crew’ that diverted addictive prescription drugs to sell on the streets of Philadelphia,” said Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. Procopio’s criminal history includes a prior conviction for sexual assault in Pennsylvania.
Federal officials said the case was investigated by the FBI, DEA, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The sentencing marks a significant conviction in the government’s broader crackdown on opioid diversion.
Authorities emphasized that both street-level drugs and diverted pharmaceuticals continue to fuel the nation’s opioid crisis.
Key Points
- Michael Procopio, 50, sentenced to six years for leading oxycodone distribution conspiracy
- He led the “10th and O Crew” and used a network of intermediaries to sell opioids
- Drugs were found in a safe hidden in a hollowed-out dictionary during a search in February
Procopio’s sentencing closes a two-year investigation into a Philadelphia-based prescription drug network tied to violent street activity.
A South Philly gang boss admits guilt after stashing opioids in a hollow dictionary.