BUFFALO, N.Y. — In a notable case of corruption within law enforcement, a former agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Buffalo, Joseph Bongiovanni, aged 60, was found guilty on Thursday after a second trial regarding allegations that he exploited his position to safeguard drug traffickers with suspected affiliations to organized crime.
The jury convicted Bongiovanni on seven out of the 11 charges he faced. Prosecutors accused him of protecting childhood acquaintances who turned into drug dealers, as well as other individuals linked to organized crime. For over a decade, he allegedly provided tips about ongoing investigations and manipulated DEA documentation. It was claimed that Bongiovanni accepted bribes in excess of $250,000, which he reportedly used for both basic necessities and more lavish expenditures, including vacations.
“This jury found him to be a corrupt federal agent,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Tripi stated in a press briefing following the verdict, noting that Bongiovanni breached his oath and neglected his responsibilities towards individuals he was supposed to be apprehending and scrutinizing.
The verdict sheds light on the larger issues within the DEA concerning the oversight of its agents, especially in light of previous corruption scandals involving the agency. Bongiovanni is one of at least 16 DEA agents faced with federal charges since 2015, many of which have led to prison sentences, including two former supervisors implicated in a Miami bribery scandal associated with intelligence leaks.
The former agent was found guilty of multiple counts, including four counts of obstruction of justice, along with a count each of conspiracy to commit fraud against the United States, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and providing false statements to law enforcement officials. However, he was acquitted on a bribery charge and additional fraud, conspiracy, and obstruction accusations.
Bongiovanni’s defense attorney, Robert Singer, announced plans to appeal the conviction. This recent verdict follows a previous jury trial in April where Bongiovanni was convicted of providing false information to federal authorities regarding a DEA file he maintained at his residence, although the jury could not reach a consensus on several other counts.
The retrial, which commenced on August 5, involved testimonies from more than 60 witnesses. Bongiovanni did not take the stand in either of his trials.
“This has been a challenging journey towards justice,” remarked U.S. Attorney Trini Ross. “But ultimately, we reached our goal.”
This case also ties into a broader sex-trafficking investigation linked to Pharoah’s Gentlemen’s Club, a strip club situated near Buffalo. Bongiovanni has longstanding ties with its owner, Peter Gerace Jr., who is believed to have connections with the Buffalo Mafia and the Outlaws Motorcycle Club. Gerace is currently awaiting trial on several allegations, including bribing Bongiovanni, to which he has pled not guilty.
Judge Lawrence Vilardo ruled that while Bongiovanni could remain free during the period leading up to his sentencing on June 9, he must wear an ankle monitor. He could face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
