Former Columbus police officer sentenced for stealing drugs from evidence room, replacing with fake drugs

For the second time in less than a month, a former Columbus police officer has been sentenced to federal prison for stealing drugs and intending to sell them.

On Jan. 8, former officer Joel Mefford received a 50 month sentence (five years) for crimes involving 15 kilograms of cocaine and money laundering.

According to court documents, between February and April of 2020, Mefford and another officer illegally seized drugs from homes and a police evidence room, giving them to another individual to be sold.

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In one instance, documents say, Mefford and the other officer entered a property they were investigating for drug activity without a search warrant, stole a portion of cocaine from it and left another portion to be discovered in an official search later.

Additionally, according to court records, the pair also stole between 10-20 kilograms of cocaine from a police evidence room and replaced it with fake cocaine. 

Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Ohio said Mefford earned approximately $130,000 from the drugs. They also said he deposited $72,000 of the funds into his personal bank account.

“Crimes like those that Mefford committed undermine the integrity of the criminal justice system. Mefford abused his official position for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker said in a press release. “Today’s substantial prison sentence is necessary to reflect the gravity of his offenses and to promote respect for the law. Corrupt public servants will be held accountable.”

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On Dec. 11, another former Columbus Police officer, John Castillo, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for stealing cocaine from a home he was investigating for drug crimes and intending to sell it.

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