2 Columbus officers arrested on federal drug charges

COLUMBUS – Two Columbus police officers are facing possible life sentences after being indicted on federal charges they alleging they stole cocaine and gave it to others to sell.

John Castillo, of Grove City, and Joel Mefford, of London, were arrested Thursday after being charged in separate indictments with possessing with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, a federal crime punishable by at least 10 years, and up to life in prison.

Mefford, 34, is also charged with money laundering and two counts of possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, according to a release from the office of Kenneth Parker, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio.

Police chief Elain Bryant and Mayor Andrew Ginther were quick to react with messages of condemnation for the two officers and support for the rest of those serving in the Division of Police.

“Integrity is one of the core values of the Columbus Division of Police. We expect
every officer wearing this badge to hold themselves to the highest degree of honesty and
transparency both on and off the job. The blatant abuse of authority and trust these
officers are accused of violates everything this division stands for and will not be
tolerated…These alleged crimes are not reflective of the work being done each and every day by our dedicated officers.” – Chief Elaine Bryant, Columbus Div. of Police

Ofc. of Mayor Andrew Ginther via X

The indictments claim that Mefford kept cocaine discovered during the execution of search warrants and stole 20 kilograms of cocaine from the Columbus police property room in 2020.

He allegedly gave that cocaine to others to sell and deposited $72,000 earned from the sales in his personal bank account.

A separate indictment alleges that in 2021, the 31-year-old Castillo kept 10 kilograms of cocaine found at a Columbus residence and stored it in another person’s basement before turning it over to another individual to sell.