Federal government seeks juror from trial of former DEA agent Joseph Bongiovanni

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – The federal government is looking to talk to one of the jurors from the trial of former DEA agent Joseph Bongiovanni.

The jury could not come to an agreement on 12 of the 15 charges levied against the former agent, including the more serious charges of conspiracy, accepting bribes, and drug-related offenses. The jury found Bongiovanni guilty earlier this month only on lesser charges of obstruction of justice and making false statements.

In a motion filed over the weekend, attorneys for Bongiovanni objected to the Fed's plans to interview a juror without revealing the reason for it. They say it could hamper their ability for Bongiovanni to receive a fair trial.

The U.S. government is planning to retry Bongiovanni on the counts that ended without a verdict.

Prosecutors declined to speak with media while leaving court after the April 12 decision from the jury, and U.S. Attorney Trini Ross declined a request for comment.

The obstruction count Bongiovanni was found guilty of carries a maximum of 20 years in jail.

The former agent, 59, was charged with taking more than $250,000 in bribes from the Buffalo Mafia to derail drug investigations and to protect a strip club owned by a childhood friend that was described by prosecutors as a haven for drug use and sex trafficking.