COLUMBUS, Ohio - Two policemen and a health care police officer face felony drug charges after the men allegedly took part in a scheme to extort money from drug dealers, according to a federal affidavit obtained Tuesday by 10TV News.
Chad Mills (pictured right, in the middle), Sean Beck (pictured far right), and Trevor Fusner (pictured right, on the left) were taken into custody on Monday evening after a five-week investigation, 10TV'S Maureen Kocot reported.
Beck, 28, and Fusner, 31, are officers with the Zanesville Police Department, and Mills, 29, is a Genesis Health Care System police officer.
All three have been charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, while Beck faces an additional charge of extortion.
According to court records, the investigation began in June when Beck allegedly demanded $7,500 from a known drug dealer in exchange for making criminal charges disappear, Kocot reported.
In August, Beck demanded an additional $1,300 which prompted the dealer to contact authorities, the FBI said.
During the same month, the FBI said Beck discussed setting up a delivery that involved "a kilo of cocaine." The plan, according to prosecutors, was to steal the cocaine and sell it for a profit, Kocot reported.
"When we get allegations of law enforcement and corruption, we address it diligently and aggressively," said FBI special agent Michael Mee. "In this case, the efforts of the agents resulted in the charges."
The federal drug charge carries a mandatory sentence of five years in prison. All three officers are scheduled to appear for a bond hearing on Thursday.
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