Former New Philadelphia, Ohio Resident Sentenced to 70 Months Imprisonment for Conspiring to Distribute and Distributing 50 Grams of Methamphetamine

A former resident of New Philadelphia, Ohio, has been sentenced in federal court to 70 months of imprisonment and 4 years of supervised release on his conviction of conspiring to distribute and distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

On June 9, 2023, United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Phillip Bonanno, 56, who is currently incarcerated at the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center.

According to information presented to the court, the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, conducted a long-term investigation, which included obtaining authorization for a federal wiretap, into drug-trafficking activity occurring in the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Bonanno (aka “Guido”, “Ohio Guido”) was a “fully-patched” member of the PMC, reportedly from 2020 until 2022, and a close associate of co-defendants Bill Rana, who is pending sentencing, and Eric Armes, who was also sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment. Bonanno and his nephew, co-defendant Cody Bonanno, who was already sentenced, lived in Ohio and were identified as methamphetamine sources of supply for among others, Rana, Armes and co-defendant Dominic Quarture, pending sentencing.

Intercepted communications confirmed that Bonanno facilitated drug trafficking activity at a residence located in New Philadelphia, Ohio, where drug customers, including members of the conspiracy, traveled to conduct drug transactions with his nephew. Additionally, Bonanno and his nephew would travel to the Western District of Pennsylvania also for their drug-trafficking activity.

Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigations, for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Bonanno.

This sentencing was the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.