by Bklyn21 » Fri Dec 20, 2019 1:37 am
Former DEA agent accused of taking bribes from the mob
(Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images)
(Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images)
By Phil Fairbanks and Maki Becker
Published November 5, 2019|Updated November 5, 2019
Joseph Bongiovanni spent two decades as a federal agent working drug cases in Buffalo.
Now, just eight months after his retirement, the former Drug Enforcement Administration agent stands accused of taking $250,000 in bribes from drug dealers whom he believed to have ties to "Italian organized crime."
In return, he provided information on drug investigations and the identity of cooperating sources, according to the charges against him.
"Bongiovanni did not investigate his friends or associates and used his position as a DEA special agent ... to shield his friends and associates," prosecutors said in an 11-count indictment against him.
Investigated by Homeland Security, the FBI and the Justice Department's Inspector General Office, the former agent is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, obstruction of justice, making false statements to a federal agency and taking a bribe as a public official.
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"The defendant was paid a quarter of a million dollars in bribes," Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi said in court Tuesday.
The drug conspiracy charge carries a maximum possible sentence of up to life in prison, while the maximum possible sentences for the remaining counts range from five years to 20 years in prison.
Prosecutors claim Bongiovanni's criminal conduct lasted more than a decade and included the sale and use of cocaine.
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Bongiovanni, 55, of Tonawanda pleaded not guilty during an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer, and his lawyer suggested the charges are groundless.
"This is an allegation," defense lawyer Paul C. Cambria told Roemer. "This is an accusation. There hasn't been any proof yet."
When asked later about the allegation that Bongiovanni has ties to the mob, Cambria said he has heard those type of charges before.
"It makes for great press," he said. "I've been hearing that for all the years I've been practicing. There's no basis for it."
Bongiovanni surrendered himself to federal authorities Tuesday morning at the federal courthouse in downtown Buffalo, where he was later arraigned.
In the indictment unsealed Tuesday, prosecutors accuse the longtime agent of having friends and associates he knew sold marijuana and cocaine and providing them with regular "debriefings" on local drug investigations by the DEA and other agencies.
He is also charged with creating fake investigations so that information, including the identity of cooperating sources, would be funneled his way.
To back up those allegations, prosecutors detail a series of alleged instances of Bongiovanni working on behalf of his co-conspirators.
He is accused, for example, of officially interceding with federal probation officials on behalf of an associate facing punishment for violating his court-supervised release.
On another occasion, according to the indictment, he became involved in the overdose of a stripper at a Cheektowaga "gentlemen's club" operated by a co-conspirator.
Bongiovanni advised his associate to "get her out" of the club, according to court papers.
The former agent is also accused of closing a DEA file on his co-conspirators while at the same time telling fellow agents the file was still open.
Shortly after his retirement in February, Bongiovanni was interviewed by investigators and asked about his relationship with that same co-conspirator, whom he described as a boyhood friend.
"I would sometimes randomly encounter (him) at a restaurant or golf outing and have not made plans to meet him socially in several years," he said at the time.
Bongiovanni, a former Erie County sheriff's deputy, was released on a $250,000 bond and ordered to limit his travel to Erie and Niagara counties.
Left to right at Tuesday's press conference are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan T. Cullinane and Joseph M. Tripi, U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr., Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent In Charge Kevin Kelly, Justice Department Inspector General New York Field Office Special Agent in Charge Guido Modano and FBI Special Agent in Charge Gary Loeffert. (Maki Becker/Buffalo News)
At a news conference following Bongiovanni's court appearance, federal authorities made clear that they believe Bongiovanni "was part of a broader and larger organized criminal conspiracy" and that the investigation is far from over.
"This investigation – all aspects of it – remain ongoing, not only Mr. Bongiovanni's conduct but the conduct of his co-conspirators, and other individuals, and I'll leave it at that," said U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr.
He declined to say whether the case was connected to any other recent federal drug cases in the Buffalo area.
"I'm not going to comment on what is connected and what isn't connected," Kennedy said.
Prosecutors were coy about connecting him directly to the Buffalo mafia, which most law enforcement say is largely nonexistent now.
In court documents and in a press release about the arrest, prosecutors describe the "friends" Bongiovanni is accused of taking bribes from and shielding as "individuals whom he believed were members and associates of IOC [Italian Organized Crime]."
Kennedy refused Tuesday to say definitively that Bongiovanni was working for the mob or that the mob was involved.
"I'm not going to engage in that sort of discussion," Kennedy said.
He said words in the court documents were "carefully chosen."
As the case continues, federal investigators will look at previous cases Bongiovanni was involved in, Kennedy said. So far, it doesn't appear that he may have planted evidence or other such activities, he said.
Authorities also sought to portray Bongiovanni as an "exception" and not the norm.
"Let me be absolutely clear: These charges should in no way be a reflection of the thousands of DEA special agents who serve this nation with honor and integrity, every day," said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Kevin Kelly. "Joseph Bongiovanni is the exception. He chose his own path and charted his own course of deception and betrayal."
Former DEA agent accused of taking bribes from the mob
(Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images)
(Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images)
By Phil Fairbanks and Maki Becker
Published November 5, 2019|Updated November 5, 2019
Joseph Bongiovanni spent two decades as a federal agent working drug cases in Buffalo.
Now, just eight months after his retirement, the former Drug Enforcement Administration agent stands accused of taking $250,000 in bribes from drug dealers whom he believed to have ties to "Italian organized crime."
In return, he provided information on drug investigations and the identity of cooperating sources, according to the charges against him.
"Bongiovanni did not investigate his friends or associates and used his position as a DEA special agent ... to shield his friends and associates," prosecutors said in an 11-count indictment against him.
Investigated by Homeland Security, the FBI and the Justice Department's Inspector General Office, the former agent is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, obstruction of justice, making false statements to a federal agency and taking a bribe as a public official.
ADVERTISEMENT
"The defendant was paid a quarter of a million dollars in bribes," Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi said in court Tuesday.
The drug conspiracy charge carries a maximum possible sentence of up to life in prison, while the maximum possible sentences for the remaining counts range from five years to 20 years in prison.
Prosecutors claim Bongiovanni's criminal conduct lasted more than a decade and included the sale and use of cocaine.
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The Other Border: At Akwesasne, where the border runs straight and nothing is simple.
Bongiovanni, 55, of Tonawanda pleaded not guilty during an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer, and his lawyer suggested the charges are groundless.
"This is an allegation," defense lawyer Paul C. Cambria told Roemer. "This is an accusation. There hasn't been any proof yet."
When asked later about the allegation that Bongiovanni has ties to the mob, Cambria said he has heard those type of charges before.
"It makes for great press," he said. "I've been hearing that for all the years I've been practicing. There's no basis for it."
Bongiovanni surrendered himself to federal authorities Tuesday morning at the federal courthouse in downtown Buffalo, where he was later arraigned.
In the indictment unsealed Tuesday, prosecutors accuse the longtime agent of having friends and associates he knew sold marijuana and cocaine and providing them with regular "debriefings" on local drug investigations by the DEA and other agencies.
He is also charged with creating fake investigations so that information, including the identity of cooperating sources, would be funneled his way.
To back up those allegations, prosecutors detail a series of alleged instances of Bongiovanni working on behalf of his co-conspirators.
He is accused, for example, of officially interceding with federal probation officials on behalf of an associate facing punishment for violating his court-supervised release.
On another occasion, according to the indictment, he became involved in the overdose of a stripper at a Cheektowaga "gentlemen's club" operated by a co-conspirator.
Bongiovanni advised his associate to "get her out" of the club, according to court papers.
The former agent is also accused of closing a DEA file on his co-conspirators while at the same time telling fellow agents the file was still open.
Shortly after his retirement in February, Bongiovanni was interviewed by investigators and asked about his relationship with that same co-conspirator, whom he described as a boyhood friend.
"I would sometimes randomly encounter (him) at a restaurant or golf outing and have not made plans to meet him socially in several years," he said at the time.
Bongiovanni, a former Erie County sheriff's deputy, was released on a $250,000 bond and ordered to limit his travel to Erie and Niagara counties.
Left to right at Tuesday's press conference are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan T. Cullinane and Joseph M. Tripi, U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr., Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent In Charge Kevin Kelly, Justice Department Inspector General New York Field Office Special Agent in Charge Guido Modano and FBI Special Agent in Charge Gary Loeffert. (Maki Becker/Buffalo News)
At a news conference following Bongiovanni's court appearance, federal authorities made clear that they believe Bongiovanni "was part of a broader and larger organized criminal conspiracy" and that the investigation is far from over.
"This investigation – all aspects of it – remain ongoing, not only Mr. Bongiovanni's conduct but the conduct of his co-conspirators, and other individuals, and I'll leave it at that," said U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr.
He declined to say whether the case was connected to any other recent federal drug cases in the Buffalo area.
"I'm not going to comment on what is connected and what isn't connected," Kennedy said.
Prosecutors were coy about connecting him directly to the Buffalo mafia, which most law enforcement say is largely nonexistent now.
In court documents and in a press release about the arrest, prosecutors describe the "friends" Bongiovanni is accused of taking bribes from and shielding as "individuals whom he believed were members and associates of IOC [Italian Organized Crime]."
Kennedy refused Tuesday to say definitively that Bongiovanni was working for the mob or that the mob was involved.
"I'm not going to engage in that sort of discussion," Kennedy said.
He said words in the court documents were "carefully chosen."
As the case continues, federal investigators will look at previous cases Bongiovanni was involved in, Kennedy said. So far, it doesn't appear that he may have planted evidence or other such activities, he said.
Authorities also sought to portray Bongiovanni as an "exception" and not the norm.
"Let me be absolutely clear: These charges should in no way be a reflection of the thousands of DEA special agents who serve this nation with honor and integrity, every day," said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Kevin Kelly. "Joseph Bongiovanni is the exception. He chose his own path and charted his own course of deception and betrayal."