Mount Kisco Man Caught in Federal Drug Investigation Gets 21 Months in Prison

A Mount Kisco man who was caught up in a federal drug trafficking probe in Connecticut has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for his role in transporting large amounts of cash.

Emmanuel "Manny" Babe, 40, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Court Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven, CT, following his Feb. 6 guilty plea to a charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition to the prison sentence, Babe is required to be on parole for two years after his release.

Babe was arrested Sept. 13, 2011, as part of "Operation Blue Coast," a investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Agency's Bridgeport (CT) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force into large-scale trafficking of oxycodone pills from Florida to Connecticut. In 2011, Babe was hired by a drug trafficker to drive large amounts of cash from New York or Connecticut to Florida.

Prosecutors said Babe was paid $750 for each trip and transported at least $150,000 in cash to Florida in an effort to hid the source of the money. Babe has been held in custody since his arrest.

The investigation led to charges against 20 people, including two law enforcement officers and three Transportation Security Agency officers.

Prosecutors said they were assisted by Westchester County Police in the investigation.