A former DEA agent, Joseph Bongiovanni, is facing accusations in a federal trial in upstate New York.
He is alleged to have taken $250,000 in bribes from the mafia, protected a strip club involved in sex trafficking, and assisted a high school English teacher with his marijuana business.
Bongiovanni’s defense attorney described him as a proactive agent known for action rather than desk work.
The prosecution claims that financial difficulties led Bongiovanni to collaborate with the mafia out of admiration for Italian organized crime figures.
Accused of betraying his badge, Bongiovanni stands accused of being a “double agent” who aided the mafia in evading law enforcement capture.
The ex-DEA agent reportedly tipped off the mafia when law enforcement was not actively pursuing them.
Bongiovanni is accused of sharing intelligence with the mafia, creating fake cases to make it seem like he was investigating certain members, and being informed when other agencies looked into the criminal group.
He allegedly urged colleagues to focus less on Italians and target black and Hispanic individuals instead.
Additionally, Bongiovanni faces allegations of endorsing criminals, falsifying reports, and taking a DEA file on organized crime for personal use after retiring suddenly.
Prosecutors claim that he went to great lengths to shield the Pharoah’s Gentlemen’s Club in Cheektowaga, known for illegal activities such as drug use and human trafficking.
Peter Gerace Jr., owner of the strip club and childhood friend of Bongiovanni, is related to Joseph Todaro – considered the head of the Buffalo Mafia.
Tripi accused Gerace of providing “cocaine and women to high-end clientele.”
Prosecutors allege that Gerace asked for Bongiovanni’s help in concealing a stripper’s overdose. Gerace was recorded in a voicemail inquiring about tracing a drug dealer’s cellphone, questioning if it could be pinged like the police do. Despite the charges, Gerace maintains his innocence and is prepared to defend himself in court.
Prosecutors plan to have a high school English teacher testify, who confessed to running a marijuana-growing operation while receiving privileged information from Bongiovanni.
It is claimed that Bongiovanni conducted his illegal activities discreetly enough to evade detection.
During the trial, jurors were informed that sometimes law enforcement agencies make mistakes, and Bongiovanni exploited this by manipulating others due to the inherent trust within the field.
Bongiovanni refutes allegations of bribery, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice which carry severe penalties.
Bongiovanni’s legal team contends that their client never accepted any bribes and argues that the case against him relies on unreliable testimonies from individuals with ulterior motives seeking benefits from the Department of Justice in exchange for incriminating testimony.
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