BUFFALO, N.Y. — Jurors began deliberating Wednesday in the federal court trial of former Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Joseph Bongiovanni, who was arrested four and a half years ago and charged with aiding drug dealers in exchange for bribes.
Following four hours of instruction from US District Court Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo jurors began their deliberations just after 1 p.m., retiring for the evening three hours later without a verdict.
That jurors did not reach a conclusion on Wednesday should come as no surprise, considering that they are now weighing the testimony of more than 70 witnesses and hundreds of exhibits entered into evidence during the trial, which began in mid-February.
They also have a lot to consider, in that Bongiovanni faces 15 counts, including conspiracy, accepting bribes as a public official, obstruction of justice, and lying to federal investigators.
At the crux of the prosecution's case are allegations that Bongiovanni used his position as a DEA agent to protect drug dealers whom prosecutors have described as having ties to the mafia by tipping them to investigations and informants.
The government alleges Bongiovanni did so by opening "sham" investigation against individuals so he would be alerted to investigations by other police agencies against those he was allegedly protecting. He is further accused of then dissuading those other agencies from pursuing their investigations, by claiming those they were looking into were actually his informants.
Prosecutors say Bongiovanni engaged in the alleged schemes in exchange for more than $250,000 over the course of nearly a decade.
Trial tidbits:
- In their first hours of deliberations, the only request made by jurors were for paper clips and for the judge to do something about how cold it was in their deliberation room. Justice Vilardo promised them there would be a space heater in place in the room when they resume their deliberations at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.
- Once the jury had left the courtroom to begin deliberating, Vilardo stepped down from the bench to shake hands with both the prosecutors and the defense lawyers who have labored over this lengthy case.
- He also shook hands with the defendant telling him, "good luck, Mr. Bongiovanni."