Former Columbus police officer sentenced to federal prison for stealing cocaine intended as to sell it

Last week, a former Columbus police officer was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for possession with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine.

John Castillo, 32, of Grove City, a former Columbus drug crimes investigator, was sentenced to 46 months (three years and 10 months) in federal prison on Dec. 11. He was arrested in February of this year and pled guilty in June.

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According to a press release from the United States Attorneys Office Southern District of Ohio, Castillo conspired with another officer to steal approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine in February 2021. Castillo and the other officer took the cocaine from a home on North Everett Avenue and did not turn it into evidence. In addition, they planted several kilograms of cocaine in the home for officers to discover later that day.

The cocaine was stored in the other officer’s basement, according to the press release.

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