Former Columbus Cop Pleads Guilty On Federal Drug Charges

Columbus OH

08 February, 2022

1:38 PM

Description

COLUMBUS, OH — A former Columbus police officer entered a guilty plea on federal drug charges in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Ohio on Tuesday morning, according to court documents. Marco Merino, 45, reached a plea agreement on charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and accepting bribes involving federal programs last week, according to court documents. The details of the plea deal are not public. Merino was accused of trafficking cocaine and more than 8 kilograms of fentanyl and accepting $45,000 in bribes for the "protected transportation of 47 kilograms of cocaine," according to the complaint. This story is being updated.