A prominent figure in South Philadelphia’s underworld is headed to federal prison after pleading guilty to leading a prescription drug distribution ring that funneled addictive opioids into local communities.
Michael Procopio, 50, a known leader of the infamous “10th and O Crew,” was sentenced this week in the District of New Jersey to six years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to unlawfully distribute oxycodone — a highly addictive painkiller fueling America’s opioid epidemic.
Between January 2022 and February 2024, Procopio orchestrated a drug operation that secured oxycodone pills from doctors’ offices and distributed them through a network of intermediaries across Philadelphia. His downfall came in February 2024, when federal agents raided his home and found prescription drugs — including oxycodone and Adderall — hidden in a safe concealed inside a hollowed-out dictionary.
According to court records, when confronted during the search, Procopio reportedly told agents, “Take me to jail” and admitted, “I fed up.”
Prosecutors revealed that Procopio was responsible for distributing nearly 15,000 milligrams of oxycodone, equivalent to between 80 and 100 kilograms of converted opioid weight under federal drug sentencing guidelines.
“The defendant led a criminal ‘crew’ that diverted addictive prescription drugs to sell on the streets of Philadelphia,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Whether it’s fentanyl smuggled in from overseas or oxycodone fraudulently obtained from a doctor’s office, the result is the same — addiction, destruction, and death in our communities.”
Criminal Past and Guilty Plea
In June 2024, Procopio pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The court also took into consideration his prior conviction for sexual assault in Pennsylvania when handing down the sentence.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office, the DEA’s New Jersey Field Division, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The investigation is part of a broader initiative to crack down on prescription drug trafficking and health care fraud.
Trial Attorneys Paul J. Koob and Nicholas K. Peone from the DOJ’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case as part of the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, which has charged over 5,800 defendants and uncovered more than $30 billion in fraudulent claims since 2007.
