Former Columbus, Ohio Police Officer Pleads Guilty To Stealing Over 10 Kilograms Of Cocaine

Monday, September 2, 2024, 1:30 P.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

COLUMBUS, OH.- On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, Joel M. Mefford, 35, of London, Ohio, a former Columbus Police Officer, appeared in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and pleaded guilty in connection with the theft and distribution of cocaine.

     On Tuesday, Mefford pleaded guilty before a District U.S.Magistrate Judge to two counts of Possessing with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine; one count of Possessing with Intent to Distribute Five Kilograms or More of Cocaine; and one count of Money Laundering.

Court Documents

     According to documents filed in the information, Mefford was a Columbus, Ohio, Police Officer assigned to investigate illicit narcotics crimes. On three occasions between February and April 2020, Mefford worked with another Police Officer to steal and traffic cocaine throughout the Columbus, Ohio area.

     In February 2020, Mefford and the other officer were investigating a narcotics crime and unlawfully gained access to a detached garage belonging to the target of the investigation. 

     Without the benefit of a warrant, they entered the garage and discovered two kilograms of cocaine hidden in the structure’s rafters. They unlawfully took one of the kilograms and left the other kilogram to be found while executing a search warrant the following morning. The other officer gave the stolen kilogram of cocaine to another individual to sell.

     At the same time in February and March 2020, Mefford and the other officer were investigating narcotics trafficking activity at houses located on Ambleside Drive and Kilbourne Avenue in the City of Columbus.

     On March 7, 2020, Mefford and the other officer took a bag containing multiple kilograms of cocaine from the house on Ambleside Drive and arrested an individual there. They then traveled to the house on Kilbourne Avenue and removed a kilogram of cocaine. That same day, Mefford turned in one kilogram of cocaine as evidence, and the officers stole the other kilogram to be sold.

     In April 2020, Mefford and the other officer stole between 10 and 20 kilograms of cocaine from the Columbus Police Department’s property room and replaced it with fake cocaine. Mefford transported the stolen cocaine in a marked police car, and the other officer then later gave the narcotics to an individual to sell. 

Mefford Receives $130,00 In Cash

     The cocaine proceeds were then given to the other officer, who provided Mefford with his cut. Mefford personally received just around $130,000 from cocaine sales.

     Mefford deposited over $72,000 of cash from the sales into his bank account.

     When sentenced, Mefford faces up to 40 years in federal prison on the cocaine charges and up to 10 years in federal prison on the money laundering charge. The final term of imprisonment will be determined by the U.S. District Court Judge. Upon release, Mefford will also face a term of supervised release.