By Carlos Illescas
Littleton police officer accused of buying $1,300 worth of Ecstasy from a confidential informant was sentenced on Tuesday to 48 months in federal prison.
Jeffery Allan Johnston, 46, was also sentenced to three years of supervised release for firearm and drug trafficking crimes, the U.S. Attorney General's Office said in a news release.
"As a police officer who violated the public's trust, a four-year federal prison sentence is just and appropriate given the circumstances," U.S. Attorney John Walsh said.
Johnston was initially charged with multiple crimes including drug possession with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
But he accepted a plea deal for prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute. He faced up to 20 years in prison and up to a $1 million fine on the possession count alone.
Johnston was arrested in July following an undercover operation by federal authorities. They said Johnston held house parties at his home in Parker. Investigators found cocaine, steroids, hundreds of prescription pills, guns and cash.
Among the items seized were an AR-15 rifle and two 12-gauge shotguns.
