The Associated Press
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - A former Tucson police detective has entered a plea agreement in connection with the theft of more than $600,000 in seized drug money.
Febronio Steven Munoz pleaded guilty to four counts of theft from an organization receiving federal funds and one count of filing a false income tax return.
Under the plea agreement reached Wednesday in U.S. District Court, Munoz will face between 24 and 30 months in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 3.
A federal grand jury returned a 32-count indictment in December against Munoz on charges of embezzlement, filing false income tax returns and in some instances spending the money on Las Vegas vacations.
He was accused of stealing about $615,000 connected to 56 drug investigations over a nearly two-year period while he was assigned to the Metropolitan Area Narcotics Trafficking Interdiction Squads.
An investigation began shortly after an audit discovered the money was missing in July 2001.