Pittsburgh Review

A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to narcotics, firearms, and money laundering violations, as announced by United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan.

John Christopher Bisbee, 44, admitted guilt before Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson to Counts Two, Three, Thirteen, and Fourteen of the Superseding Indictment.

According to court information, from July 2019 to June 2020 in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Bisbee conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine. Leading a drug trafficking organization in Erie and surrounding areas including New York, Bisbee was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining kilogram quantities of methamphetamine for distribution. Through an Atlanta-based supplier, he imported dozens of kilograms at a time, packaged it for distribution, and managed a network of distributors who disseminated the drugs and collected proceeds.

In June 2020, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Bisbee’s residence where they seized two handguns and over 100 rounds of ammunition. Due to prior felony convictions for drug trafficking, Bisbee is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. He also pleaded guilty to possessing these firearms in connection with the current federal drug trafficking crime.

Bisbee further admitted that between July 2019 and June 2020 he conspired with others to commit money laundering by using drug proceeds to purchase real estate with cash.

Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for October 22, 2024. The law stipulates a maximum total sentence ranging from not less than 15 years up to life imprisonment along with a fine up to $10 million or both. The actual sentence will be determined based on the seriousness of the offenses and Bisbee’s prior criminal history under federal Sentencing Guidelines.

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

The investigation leading to Bisbee’s prosecution was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police. Additional participating agencies included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation; 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; among other local law enforcement agencies.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation which aims to identify, disrupt, and dismantle high-level drug traffickers using a prosecutor-led multi-agency approach leveraging federal, state, and local law enforcement strengths against criminal networks.