A former Louisville detective once featured on the true crime TV show "48 Hours" pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to stealing more than $74,700 in drug money while part of an elite drug task force.

Louisville Metro Police Detective Kyle Willett admitted in court that he stole several cash payments out of packages headed from local dealers to large-scale drug distributors in California and other destinations via the Louisville-based UPS Worldport hub.

"It's cartel drug dealer money that was heading back after doing bad things in our community," his attorney, Brian Butler, told reporters after the court hearing.

U.S. Magistrate Dave Whalin said Willett's sentence could be up to 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. A U.S. District Court judge will determine the sentence April 19 after reviewing a pre-sentencing report and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Calhoun's recommendation.

Butler estimates that his client will get a sentence of between six months to a year, which could be probated or served in prison or home incarceration because of his cooperation with investigators, his quick plea agreement — before charges were filed — and clean record. He said Willett also has already given all of the stolen money to federal authorities.

If the sentence is harsher than expected, Willett can't appeal, the judge cautioned in court Wednesday.

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The detective, who was soft-spoken and polite in court, was allowed to walk out after taking an oath to return for sentencing. He declined to talk with reporters.

"Obviously, it's a very sad day for Kyle and his family," his attorney said after the hearing. "He's disappointed in the decision he made ... Today was an important day toward putting this behind him."

Willett admitted that between January and August, he would identify packages that might contain money, take them to his car and open them, occasionally grabbing the cash, according to his plea agreement.

While Butler would not comment on why Willett took the cash, he said that "without question, it was not greed."

"He was not spending this money to live a lavish lifestyle," Butler said.

The defense attorney, who handled some of Willett's cases against drug traffickers when he was a federal prosecutor, called Willett "a fantastic police officer — professional, thorough and fair."

Willett was placed on administrative reassignment after police Chief Steve Conrad received information that he "may have violated federal law," a department spokesman confirmed in September - but few details were released.

Butler told the Courier-Journal on Wednesday that the investigation began after a tip from law enforcement in California to officials here.

Willett left the police force on Oct. 31 after being questioned by the FBI.

That ended a nearly two-decade law enforcement career with a personnel file of mostly commendations.

"He cannot be an officer after today because he pleaded guilty to a felony offense," which precludes him from carrying a firearm, Butler said.

He had been a member of a federally supported High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force, which includes other Louisville police officers as well as federal agents and Kentucky State Police investigators. The task force had inspected packages at UPS's Worldport hub and dressed in brown clothes that resemble UPS uniforms to make "controlled deliveries" of drugs, watching and recording as buyers paid for them, according to a source familiar with the task force.

Willett's fellow task force member, Thomas Barth, also was placed on administrative leave and investigated by the FBI, according to the September police release.

Barth's attorney, Steve Schroering, said he has been advised that there will be no state or federal charges, though an internal police investigation of him is ongoing.

“While they worked to in the same unit, the allegations surrounding Willett's activities are not connected in any way to Tommy Barth," Schroering said. "There was never any allegation that Tommy Barth stole anything.”

Reporter Beth Warren can be reached at (502) 582-7164 or bwarren@courier-journal.com. Reporter Matthew Glowicki can be reached at 502-582-4989 or mglowicki@courier-journal.com.

A former Louisville detective once featured on the true crime TV show "48 Hours" pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday on theft charges. He could face up to 10 years in a federal prison when sentenced in April.

Willett admitted in court to a single count of theft from interstate shipments, stealing a total of nearly $75,000 from parcels heading to UPS's Worldport air hub in Louisville while between January and August 2016 while on duty.

Defense attorney Brian Butler said the money Willett took, over months, came from drug buyers sending payment to dealers in California while Willett was working at the hub as a member of an elite multi-agency drug interdiction task force.

"It's cartel drug dealer money that was heading back after doing bad things in our community," Butler said.

Willett, who left the police force on Oct. 31 after being questioned by the FBI, was ordered to return the money to federal officials. His attorney said he has already complied.

According to a plea agreement, Willett would identify packages that might contain money, take them to his car and open them, occasionally grabbing the cash.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Dave Whalin said Willett's sentence could be up to 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. A U.S. District Court judge will determine the sentence April 19 after reviewing a pre-sentencing report and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Calhoun's recommendation.

Due to his cooperation and clean record, Butler estimates that his client faces a sentence of between six months to a year, which could be probated or served in prison or home incarceration.

If the sentence is harsher than expected, Willett can't appeal, the judge cautioned in court Wednesday.

While Butler would not yet comment on why Willett took the cash, he said "without question, it was not greed."

"He was not spending this money to live a lavish lifestyle," Butler said.

The defense attorney, who handled some of Willett's cases against drug traffickers when he was a federal prosecutor, called Willett "a fantastic police officer - professional, thorough and fair."

Willett was placed on administrative reassignment after police Chief Steve Conrad received information that Willett "may have violated federal law," a department spokesman confirmed in September. Few details were released, including the nature of the allegations.

Willett had been a member of the federally supported High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force, which includes other Louisville police officers as well as federal agents and Kentucky State Police investigators. The task force had inspected packages at UPS's Worldport hub and dressed in brown clothes that resemble UPS uniforms to make "controlled deliveries" of drugs, watching and recording as buyers paid for them, according to a source familiar with the task force.

Conrad also ordered an internal affairs investigation months ago into Willett's conduct to check for possible departmental violations.

Willett's fellow task force member, Thomas Barth, also was placed on administrative leave and investigated by the FBI, according to the September police release.

Barth's attorney, Steve Schroering, said he has been advised that there will be no state or federal charges.

“While they worked to in the same unit, the allegations surrounding Willett's activities are not connected in any way to Tommy Barth," Schroering said. "There was never any allegation that Tommy Barth stole anything.”

The internal police investigation remains ongoing.

This story will be updated.