Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former Columbus police officer was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 65 months in prison for conspiring with another police officer to traffic more than eight kilograms of fentanyl and for conspiring with a confidential informant to traffic 40 kilograms of cocaine.
John J. Kotchkoski, 36, of Marengo, Ohio, conspired to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
“Failing to uphold his oath to serve the residents of this great community, Kotchkoski forever stained his badge, not the badge of all the incredible men and women of the Columbus Division of Police. He should be held accountable for his misdeeds. This sentence of more than five years in prison for conspiring to distribute this poison in our community should send a message to every member of law enforcement that any such failure to uphold our oath to the community will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker.
According to court documents, from at least June 2021 through his September 2021 arrest, while assigned to investigate drug crimes, Kotchkoski conspired with a fellow Columbus police officer and with a confidential informant to illegally traffic drugs.
Kotchkoski provided the confidential informant approximately 40 kilograms of cocaine to be sold and then kept most of the proceeds.
The defendant conspired with the other officer to receive a portion of the drug proceeds made from selling kilogram quantities of fentanyl. For example, on at least three occasions, the coconspirator distributed fentanyl to another individual and accepted $32,500 for approximately one of the kilograms of fentanyl. Kotchkoski received a portion of these drug proceeds.
In late August 2021, Kotchkoski expected to receive an additional portion of drug proceeds for more than eight kilograms of fentanyl being provided by his coconspirator but was arrested before he was able to do so.
Kotchkoski pleaded guilty to a bill of information in April 2022.
As part of his conviction, Kotchkoski will forfeit a Cadillac Escalade, a Chevrolet Corvette, more than 20 firearms and a money judgment totaling half a million dollars.
Coconspirator Marco R. Merino was sentenced in February 2023 to nine years in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the FBI’s Public Corruption Task Force, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate and Elizabeth A. Geraghty are representing the United States in this case.
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