OHIO — A former Columbus police officer was sentenced to 65 months in federal prison Tuesday for conspiring to traffic more than eight kilograms of fentanyl and 40 kilograms of cocaine.
John J. Kotchkoski, 36, of Marengo, Ohio, pleaded guilty in April 2022 to charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court records, Kotchkoski, while assigned to investigate drug crimes, worked with a fellow officer and a confidential informant to traffic illegal drugs between June and September 2021.
Kotchkoski provided the confidential informant with approximately 40 kilograms of cocaine to sell and kept most of the proceeds.
He also conspired with the other officer to distribute kilogram quantities of fentanyl, sharing in the drug proceeds.
In one instance, the coconspirator distributed a kilogram of fentanyl and received $32,500, part of which was given to Kotchkoski.
In August 2021, Kotchkoski was set to receive proceeds from the sale of more than eight kilograms of fentanyl but was arrested before completing the transaction.
“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,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker.
“This sentence of more than five years in prison…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.”
As part of his conviction, Kotchkoski will forfeit a Cadillac Escalade, a Chevrolet Corvette, more than 20 firearms, and a money judgment of $500,000.
Kotchkoski’s coconspirator, Marco R. Merino, was sentenced in February 2023 to nine years in prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Columbus Division of Police.
The FBI’s Public Corruption Task Force led the inquiry, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter K. Glenn-Applegate and Elizabeth A. Geraghty.
U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. imposed the sentence.
