COLUMBUS, Ohio – John Castillo, 32, of Grove City, was sentenced in U.S. District Court here today to 46 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

According to court documents, Castillo was previously a Columbus police officer assigned to investigate drug crimes. In February 2021, he conspired with another officer to steal and sell approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine. Castillo and the other officer took approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine from a house on North Everett Avenue and did not turn it into evidence. They planted two additional kilograms of cocaine for law enforcement discovery later that day at the house. The 10 kilograms of cocaine were stored in the other officer’s basement before they were given to another individual to sell.