COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A former Columbus police officer is facing up to 10 years in prison after changing his plea on drug charges in federal court Wednesday morning.
John Castillo, 31, of Grove City, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with attempt to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
The case against Castillo stems from a February arrest that included accusations of stealing drugs from evidence rooms and investigation scenes, as well as passing off narcotics to another person to be sold.
According to the indictment, Castillo, who originally pleaded not guilty, took approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine from a home on North Everett Avenue in east Columbus during an investigation but did not enter the drugs as evidence. He then planted two of the kilograms at the Broadleigh neighborhood home and took the rest to be sold by another person.
