Littleton Police Officer Arrested for Drug Trafficking Crimes

DENVER—Jeffery Allan Johnston, age 46, of Parker, Colorado, has been arrested based on a criminal complaint charging him with the drug trafficking related crimes, United States Attorney John Walsh, FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ravenelle, and Littleton Police Chief Doug Stephens announced. Johnston was arrested without incident at his Parker home by the FBI on Friday, July 19, 2013. The criminal complaint was unsealed by the court today. Johnston appeared in U.S. District Court in Denver this afternoon, where he was advised of his rights and the charges pending against him. The government is asking the court that Johnston be held in custody without bond pending a resolution of his case. A detention hearing and a preliminary hearing is scheduled to take place on July 25, 2013, at 3:00 p.m.

The criminal complaint charges Johnston with possession of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of MDMA with intent to distribute; maintaining a drug-involved premises; possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and using a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking felony.

According to the affidavit in support of the arrest warrant, on July 15, 2013, Johnston contacted a friend via telephone. During the call, Johnston said he wanted to “catch up” with the friend. The person Johnston contacted is a known narcotics trafficker who has been invited to Johnston’s residence previously to distribute narcotics to guests at parties Johnston hosts. According to the friend, Johnston paid for 3,4-methylenedioxy methamphetamine (known as MDMA, Ecstasy, or X) for his parties.

During the phone call, Johnston asked if he could purchase between 40 and 50 Ecstasy pills from the source for between $15 to $20 each. They discussed the fact that some of the Ecstasy currently available was not well made. Johnston offered to use a test kit to confirm the quality of the Ecstasy. On July 19, 2013, the FBI conducted a controlled delivery of 37 Ecstasy pills and 6.3 grams of Ecstasy powder. Johnston paid $1,300 for the delivery. Following the exchange of Ecstasy and money, Johnston was taken into custody, and a search warrant was executed a Johnston’s residence.

Agents found the 10 grams of Ecstasy just delivered to Johnston in a kitchen drawer and a stainless steel Colt Officers Model .45 caliber pistol, which was located in a small black bag on the counter above the drawer containing the Ecstasy. The pistol was loaded with seven .45 rounds of ammunition in the magazine and one .45 round in the chamber. Investigators also found suspected cocaine, suspected steroids, hundreds of suspected prescription pills, additional firearms, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, all in his residence. Further, agents discovered evidence of drug trafficking in a kitchen drawer. In that drawer was empty pill pouches, a drug test kit and a scale.

In the complaint, the preliminary charging document, Johnston faces one count of possession of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of MDMA with intent to distribute, which carries a penalty of not more than 20 years in federal prison and a fine of not more than $1,000,000; one count of maintaining a drug involved premises, which carries a penalty of not more than 20 years in federal prison and a fine of not more than $500,000; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a penalty of not less than five years and not more than life in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000; one count of using a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking felony, which carries a penalty of not more than four years in federal prison and up to a $500,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Those who may have information regarding this matter should contact the FBI at 303-629-7171.

Johnston is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Guy Till and David Conner.

A criminal complaint is a probable cause charging document. Anyone accused of committing a federal felony crime has a Constitutional right to be indicted by a grand jury, thus finalizing the charges.

The charges contained in the complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.