A federal jury in Columbus has convicted Westerville resident Brendan Conklin, 45, of impersonating a federal law enforcement officer and of unlawfully arresting and searching a woman during a December 2023 traffic stop. Investigators said the woman reported she had just left her Westerville home with a minor child when Conklin pulled her over, pointed a firearm, handcuffed and searched her, then briefly locked her in his vehicle until local officers freed her. Jurors returned guilty verdicts Wednesday after a trial that began May 4 and wrapped up May 6.
How the stop unfolded
Court filings in the Southern District of Ohio describe the December 14, 2023 stop in detail. According to CaseMine, Conklin posed as a federal officer, ordered the victim out of her vehicle at gunpoint, searched and handcuffed her, and locked her in the caged compartment of his SUV. The filings state that Conklin then called the Columbus Division of Police non-emergency line to ask about a possible warrant before telling the woman she was free to leave. Prosecutors also highlighted internet searches Conklin ran in 2023 for phrases such as "how to determine if a US marshal is legit" as part of their case.
Charges and next steps
The verdict capped a multi-day proceeding, as reported by CW Columbus. A federal grand jury indicted Conklin in January 2026 on two counts: false impersonation of a federal officer under 18 U.S.C. § 912, as outlined by Cornell Law School, and making an arrest or search while impersonating under 18 U.S.C. § 913, which is detailed by Justia. Each charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison. Prosecutors said sentencing will be scheduled later and will take into account advisory guidelines and other statutory factors.
Legal implications
Before trial, Conklin sought to limit certain evidence and asked for review of grand jury materials. The court addressed those motions in April, according to pretrial entries summarized by CaseMine. The conviction exposes Conklin to federal punishment and potential collateral consequences, including loss of professional licenses and civil liability, depending on the sentence imposed. The court will set a sentencing hearing at which prosecutors are expected to present their guideline calculations along with other statutory considerations.
