Allegheny County DA's detective back on job after drug case is dismissed, but charges could be refiled

A Westmoreland County district judge dismissed charges last week against a former detective with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office who police said provided testosterone and Adderall to his son when he played high school football.

The DA’s office rehired Raymond Bonacci, 57, of Elizabeth after the charges were dismissed, though the case has been referred to the state Attorney General’s Office and charges could be refiled.

The DA’s office did not respond to requests for comment. The AG’s office declined to comment.

Michael DeRiso, Bonacci’s defense attorney, said Monday that the case was a rush to judgment that was improperly handled.

“None of these allegations took place in Westmoreland County — if they are true,” DeRiso said.

Bonacci was charged in mid-July with two felony counts of drug delivery after state police said they learned that he provided testosterone and Adderall to his son, Anthony Bonacci, in 2019 when the younger Bonacci was a senior center and nose guard on Franklin Regional High School’s football team.

Police said that information came to light after the younger Bonacci applied for a job as a state trooper. As part of his interview process, police said he told the agency that his father gave him Adderall and testosterone in the fall of 2019 “to enhance his performance and attention,” according to a criminal complaint filed in the case.

While conducting its background check of the younger Bonacci, state police said they requested an interview with the Bonacci family. During the interview, Raymond Bonacci admitted to injecting his son with testosterone and providing him with Adderall, police said.

District Judge Charles Conway dismissed the charges during a Sept. 19 preliminary hearing.

A spokeswoman for the Westmoreland County DA’s office said the office received information after the charges were filed that the case had to be prosecuted in Allegheny County.

Although the original criminal complaint listed Raymond Bonacci’s home address in Westmoreland County’s Murrysville, DeRiso said his client lives in Elizabeth in Allegheny County.

DeRiso said his client is separated from his wife and, for years, she has lived in Murrysville while he has lived in Elizabeth.

“Mr. Bonacci had to live in Allegheny County for residency requirements for his employment,” DeRiso said. “I don’t think anyone is disputing where he lives.”

After the charges came to light, DeRiso said his client was asked to retire by the DA’s office.

“He wasn’t given much of a choice based on the charges,” he said. “It’s just a big rush to judgment.”

As for the case, the spokeswoman for the Westmoreland County DA’s office said, “Upon conferring with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office and the obvious conflict of interest, we have jointly referred the criminal case to the Office of the Attorney General.”

Raymond Bonacci returned to work with the Allegheny County DA’s office Monday, according to the county controller’s office.

A county database that redacts officers’ names showed a DA’s detective matching Bonacci’s hire date earning $104,000 annually as of June.