Pennsylvania resident Man Erie, who led large-scale drug trafficking organization, pleads guilty to drug, firearms and money laundering charges

JOHNSTOWN, PA. – An Erie, Pennsylvania, resident pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal drug, firearms and money laundering laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced Friday .

John Christopher Bisbee, 44, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson to counts two, three, thirteen and fourteen of the superseding indictment.

As part of the guilty plea, the Court was informed that between approximately July 2019 and June 2020, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Bisbee conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Bisbee, who directed and directed the drug trafficking organization's activities in and around Erie, including New York, was intercepted in a federal wiretap obtaining kilo quantities of methamphetamine which he distributed to others. Through a supply source in Atlanta, Bisbee imported dozens of kilograms of methamphetamine at a time, packaged them for final distribution, and supplied them to a network of distributors below him to distribute and collect the profits from the drug.

While executing a search warrant at Bisbee's home in June 2020, law enforcement seized two handguns and more than 100 rounds of ammunition. Under federal law, Bisbee is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition based on prior drug convictions. In this case, Bisbee also pleaded guilty to possessing these firearms in connection with the current federal crime of drug trafficking.

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

Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for October 22, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of at least 15 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under federal sentencing guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based on the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal history of the defendant.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Bisbee. Other agencies participating in this investigation included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, the Clearfield County Prosecutor's Office and the Erie County District Attorney's Office. District Attorney's Office, Millcreek Police Department, Erie Police Bureau and other local law enforcement agencies.

This pursuit is part of an investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, multi-agency approach based on intelligence that leverages the forces of federal, state and local law enforcement against criminal networks.