United States of America v. Peter Gerace

Buffalo, New York, criminal defense lawyers represented the Defendant charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, drug trafficking and defrauding the United States, along with witness tampering, maintaining a drug involved premises and bribing a public official.

Reported by Kent Morlan

Between 2005, and 2019, Peter Gerace, Jr., owned and operated Pharaoh's Gentlemen's Club. While doing so Gerace engaged in various criminal activity to include conspiring to distribute controlled substances, sex trafficking and bribing former Drug Enforcement Agent Joesph Bongiovanni. Gerace paid Bongiovanni in exchange for Bongiovanni using his position to dissuade other members of law enforcement from conducting investigations into Gerace’s activities at Pharaoh’s. Bongiovanni was previously convicted and was sentenced to serve five years in prison. Gerace also forced and coerced Pharaoh’s dancers to engage in commercial sex acts.

“The conduct Peter Gerace engaged in had a horrendous impact on the victims and negatively impacted the community,” stated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “My office will continue pursue individuals who engage in such conduct and hold them accountable.”

The sentencing of Peter Gerace sends a clear message that individuals who exploit vulnerable people for profit will be held accountable and exposed the devastating impact of drug trafficking, public corruption, and human trafficking within Western New York. To those who have been exploited or trafficked: your life matters, and your voice matters.

The sentence closes a dark chapter in which this defendant treated people as commodities and tried to bend the justice system to his will.

Guilty and sentenced to 25 years in prison.