Kingston man convicted of drug charges, promoting contraband in prison, prosecutor's office says – Daily Freeman

Peter J. Bonavita (Ulster County Sheriff's photo)

KINGSTON, N.Y. — A city man who was involved in several recent drug trafficking cases and had just been sentenced to 4 1/2 years, also in connection with drug trafficking, was again indicted while awaiting transfer to state prison. .

On Thursday, June 13, Peter Bonavita, 49, was sentenced by Visiting Judge James Farrell in Ulster County Court to 4 1/2 years in state prison on his drug trafficking charges and 1 to 3 years in state prison on his conspiracy to distribute drugs in Ulster County Prison. These sentences were obtained through his plea to two separate indictments on February 26.

Bonavita's conviction for criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, a felony, involved investigations by the State Police Violent Gang Enforcement Task Force (VGNET) and other local law enforcement agencies. The conspiracy conviction was obtained when various branches of the Ulster County Sheriff's Office and the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Team (URGENT) identified Bonavita as one of several individuals involved in trafficking of narcotics and other contraband to the Ulster County Jail.

After being sentenced on June 13, Bonavita was sent to the Ulster County Jail to await transfer to state prison. During the intake process at the jail, correctional officers discovered Bonavita was in possession of an “unknown” contraband item concealed in his body. After being placed on individual supervision, the contraband was recovered after four days, the prosecutor’s office said.

The contraband merchandise was determined to be a synthetic cannabinoid, also known as K2 or Spice, with a street value of several thousand dollars. Bonavita was then charged Wednesday, June 26, with promoting prison contraband, a felony. If convicted, he faces 2 1/2 to 7 years in prison, on top of his previous sentences.

“The smuggling of any contraband, drugs and/or synthetic cannabinoids is not considered a minor offense within the confines of our facility. It is an extremely dangerous offense that must be taken seriously to protect the safety and well-being of all incarcerated individuals and staff,” said Ulster County Jails Superintendent Anthony Maggio. “All violators will be treated with the utmost seriousness to the fullest extent of the law.”

Ulster County Prosecutor Emmanuel Nneji said Bonavita's behavior “is an example of the depths to which drug traffickers will go to get their product into institutions, and the vigilance required by law enforcement to combat drug trafficking to inmates” and “what law enforcement faces in efforts to reduce and prevent drug-related overdoses and deaths.”

Nneji said Bonavita's alleged conduct poses dangers to “inmates struggling to get sober.”

The current prosecution is being prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Paul V. Derohannesian. Bonavita is being represented by Marlborough attorney Matt Mahan.