Mr. Bonamo received his Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of law in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1995. While in law school, Mr. Bonamo was extensively involved in Stetson's trial practice and clinic programs. Prior to attending Stetson University, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, from the University of Florida in 1992. Due to Mr. Bonamo's academic achievement while at the University of Florida he was selected for membership in Phi Beta Kappa national academic honor society.
Prior to joining Rice & Rose, Mr. Bonamo was a federal prosecutor for the United States Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida. He also worked as a state prosecutor, serving eight and one half years as an Assistant State Attorney for the State Attorney's Office, Seventh Judicial Circuit. During his tenure with the State Attorney's Office, Mr. Bonamo handled and tried all types of criminal matters, including homicides, career criminal prosecution and complex white-collar/fraud cases. He served as a Supervising Attorney in the Felony Trial Division for several years. While a state prosecutor, he was also an Adjunct Professor at Daytona Beach Community College teaching in the areas of criminal and constitutional law.
Mr. Bonamo is Board Certified as a Criminal Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar. He is admitted to practice in all Florida courts and in 2000 was admitted to the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida. He has obtained membership to practice before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, seated in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a former member of the Florida Bar's Code and Rules of Evidence Committee, 2004-2007. He is a member of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Mr. Bonamo previously served as a mentor for law school students in Florida through The Florida Bar's E-Mentor Program. He is a current member of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar. He is a former board member for the Volusia County Bar Association from 2004-2007. From 2007-2008, he was Treasurer of the Volusia County Bar Association, from 2008-2009 was President Elect and 2009-2010, President of the Volusia County Bar Association. He is President of the Volusia County Bar Assocation Foundation, 2010-2011. He is a member of the Flagler County Bar Association. He is a member of the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Florida Pro Bono Steering Committee. He is a former Barrister Member of the Dunn-Blount Inns of Court. Mr. Bonamo is a member of the Federal Bar Association-Orlando Chapter and from 2006-2009, Board of Director for the Bert Fish Medical Center Foundation. He is a graduate of the 2005 Leadership Class for the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce as well as a member of their Board of Directors from 2006 to 2009. Mr. Bonamo also served on the scholarship review committee for New Smyrna Beach CAPS (Community and Alumni Providing Scholarships) for New Smyrna High School from 2006 through 2009. He is a member of the Florida Bar Speakers Bureau.
