COLUMBUS, Ohio — Former Columbus Division of Police Officer Steven G. Rosser was convicted in federal court for conspiring to violate someone’s constitutional rights, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
Rosser, 45, was a 19-year veteran of Columbus Police and served as a detective in the vice unit from from 2013 until 2018. The verdict was handed down late Tuesday by Judge Sarah D. Morrison.
If convicted, Rosser could face up to 10 years in prison.
According to the Department of Justice, Rosser was accused of violating the fourth amendment rights of a person which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. Prosecutors said that Rosser was part of a scheme attempting to frame the owner of a Columbus nightclub, the Dollhouse, for cocaine possession.
Rosser and a second Columbus Division of Police officer were charged in March 2020 as part of the conspiracy. The other officer was acquitted. The two were also originally charged with wire fraud, but had those charges dismissed before trial.
“The indictment alleges that these two former law enforcement officers abused their badges and deprived individuals of their Constitutional rights,” said U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers at the time of the arrests. “We will root out any alleged bad actors acting under color of law and are grateful to the vast majority of officers who do the honorable work of protecting us and the Constitution.”
