Erie resident sentenced to 21 years in prison for leading large-scale methamphetamine trafficking organization

Date: Dec. 11, 2024

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Johnstown, PA - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 252 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, on his convictions of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, unlawful possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on John Christopher Bisbee.

According to information presented to the Court in connection with the defendant's guilty plea, between July 2019 and June 2020, Bisbee participated in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Specifically, Bisbee led and directed a drug trafficking organization that operated in Erie and surrounding areas, including across the border with New York, and obtained kilogram quantities of methamphetamine that he distributed to others. Through a source of supply in Atlanta, Bisbee imported dozens of kilograms of methamphetamine at a time, packaged it for final distribution, and provided it to a network of co-conspirators below him to sell and collect proceeds from the drugs.

During the execution of a search warrant at Bisbee's residence, law enforcement agents seized two handguns and more than 100 rounds of ammunition. Under federal law, Bisbee is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition based on previous felony convictions for drug trafficking. Bisbee further admitted that he possessed the firearms in furtherance of the instant federal drug trafficking crime.

In addition to the methamphetamine conspiracy, Bisbee also admitted to conspiring to commit money laundering by using cash proceeds from drug sales to purchase real estate in the Erie area. In connection with Bisbee's plea, the defendant further agreed to forfeit over $305,000 in cash and jewelry that was seized during the investigation.

Bisbee's sentencing follows that of co-defendant Alexis Brolin Jr. in September 2024, who was sentenced to 204 months in prison. Brolin directed the drug trafficking organization's activity in Clearfield and surrounding areas.

"John Bisbee was a major methamphetamine trafficker in the Erie area whose network stretched across northwestern and central Pennsylvania and into New York," said U.S. Attorney Olshan. "Drugs and firearms are too often a deadly combination in our communities, and today's 21-year sentence-along with Alexis Brolin's recent 17-year sentence-reflect our collective resolve at all levels of law enforcement to pursue the most dangerous offenders in this district with the full weight of federal law."

"Bisbee received a severe sentence in federal prison for leading a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking organization," said Thomas Hodnett, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Philadelphia Field Division. "This investigation exemplifies how collaboration with our law enforcement partners safeguards our communities against criminal organizations."

"The Pennsylvania State Police thank Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon, with whom we have a longstanding relationship, for the exceptional prosecution of both these individuals," said Lieutenant Scott A. Bauer, Criminal Investigation Section Commander for the Pennsylvania State Police, Troop C. "These sentences are the result of a tremendous amount of effort put forth by members of our Troop C, G, and A Vice Units, along with the DEA, and I would like to commend and recognize the hard work of all of the troopers, agents, and task force officers who played a role during this significant investigation. The coordinated efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies and their members made the results of this investigation possible."

Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Bisbee. Additional agencies participating in this investigation included the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; United States Postal Inspection Service; Homeland Security Investigations; Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; Clearfield County District Attorney's Office; Erie County District Attorney's Office; Millcreek Police Department; Erie Bureau of Police, and other local law enforcement agencies.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multiagency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

IRS-CI is the criminal investigative arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money-laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code, obtaining a more than a 90 percent federal conviction rate. The agency has 20 field offices located across the U.S. and 12 attaché posts abroad.