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Buonomo released on bail pending appeal of fentanyl trafficking conviction

The charges stemmed from a city police "high-risk" takedown of a vehicle in November 2021

Convicted drug dealer Mickey Buonomo, who was recently sentenced to an eight-year prison term for trafficking fentanyl, is no longer behind bars. 

Ontario's top court granted the Sault Ste. Marie man bail Friday pending the appeal of his April 2024 conviction.

A jury found Buonomo, 44, guilty of possession of 463 grams of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking, possession of methamphetamine and unlicensed possession of a prohibited conductive energy weapon.

Superior Court Justice Patrick Boucher imposed the penitentiary sentence on Jan. 16.

The charges stemmed from a city police "high-risk" takedown of a vehicle in November 2021. Buonomo, one of four people in the vehicle, was sitting in the front passenger seat.

Officers discovered a bag containing the fentanyl, valued at $102,000, along with the weapon, near his feet.

His case before the Ontario Court of Appeal centres around the police search and a judge's finding that the officers didn't violate his Charter rights.

The Crown opposed his release from custody pending the appeal.

In its decision regarding bail, the higher court said Buonomo is neither a flight nor public safety risk.

He complied with bail restrictions without incidents before and after he was convicted, it noted.

As well, the trial Crown didn't seek to revoke bail after he was convicted and leading up to his Jan. 16 sentencing.

Buonomo has a solid release plan that includes GPS monitoring (an ankle bracelet) which "attenuates any public safety concerns in this case," the decision concluded.