From Mirror staff reports

An Erie resident has been sentenced to more than 20 years behind bars for his role in a large-scale drug-trafficking ring that brought kilos of meth from Atlanta into central Pennsylvania.

John Christopher Bisbee, 44, was sentenced in federal court to 252 months in prison, followed by five years of probation, on his convictions of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced Wednesday.

Bisbee was among 38 arrested in a drug bust in June 2020 after an 18-month investigation, according to court documents.

According to information presented to the court in connection with Bisbee’s guilty plea, between July 2019 and June 2020, Bisbee participated in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Specifically, Bisbee led and directed a drug-trafficking organization that operated in Erie and surrounding areas, including across the border with New York, and obtained kilogram quantities of methamphetamine that he distributed to others.

Through a source of supply in Atlanta, Bisbee imported dozens of kilograms of methamphetamine at a time, packaged it for final distribution and provided it to a network of co-conspirators below him to sell and collect proceeds from the drugs.

During the execution of a search warrant at Bisbee’s residence, law enforcement agentseized two handguns and more than 100 rounds of ammunition. Under federal law, Bisbee isprohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition based on previous felony convictions fordrug trafficking.

In addition to the methamphetamine conspiracy, Bisbee also admitted to conspiring to commit money laundering by using cash proceeds from drug sales to purchase real estate in the Erie area.

In connection with his plea, Bisbee agreed to forfeit over $305,000 in cash and jewelry that was seized during the investigation.

Bisbee’s sentencing follows that of co-defendant Alexis Brolin Jr. in September 2024, who was sentenced to 204 months in prison. Brolin directed the drug-trafficking organization’s activity in Clearfield and surrounding areas.

“John Bisbee was a major methamphetamine trafficker in the Erie area whose network stretched across northwestern and central Pennsylvania and into New York,” Olshan said. “Drugs and firearms are too often a deadly combination in our communities, and today’s 21-year sentence — along with Alexis Brolin’s recent 17-year sentence — reflect our collective resolve at all levels of law enforcement to pursue the most dangerous offenders in this district with the full weight of federal law.”

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

Residents from Winburne, Clearfield, Logantown, Allport, Centre Hall, Philipsburg, Woodland, Mineral Spring, Morrisdale, Erie, Osceola Mills, Hyde, Avis, Lock Haven, Mill Hall, Houtzdale, Sandy Ridge and Brownsville were among the 38 arrested in 2020.