United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced today, September 23, 2008, that on September 22, 2008, Eric D. Payne, a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to 37 months (3 years, 1 month) in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating the federal drug laws.

United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Payne, age 38.

According to information presented to the court by Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti, on December 23, 2005, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Payne possessed with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams but less than 2 kilograms of cocaine.

Ms. Buchanan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Eric D. Payne. Other agencies that participated in the investigation and prosecution include the Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force (FBI, Pittsburgh Police, Allegheny County District Attorney's Investigations Unit, Allegheny County Sheriff's Office), the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the West Mifflin Police Department, the Penn Hills Police Department, the Monroeville Police Department and the Verona Police Department.