BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Kenneth Lee Crittenden, a former assistant to Birmingham Mayor William Bell who scheduled events at the Crossplex sports complex, pleaded guilty this afternoon to a money laundering charge related to a heroin and cocaine distribution case.

Crittenden pleaded guilty to the charge in a hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Sharon L. Blackburn. Crittenden entered the plea, despite not having a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office. The judge has not yet set a sentencing date for Crittenden.

Crittenden's attorney, Jonathan S Cross, declined comment after the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Dimler also declined comment.

Crittenden was indicted along with 10 other men in a 46-count superseding indictment issued by a grand jury in October. A number of the counts involve charges of distribution or possession with intent to distribute heroin or cocaine.

Most of the men indicted in the new indictment had been arrested in May during a sweep by federal agents in Jefferson County involving a large-scale drug probe that brought about $5 million worth of heroin and cocaine into the Birmingham area in less than a year.

At least a half dozen others have pleaded guilty in the case, including the two men - Prentice Lee Tanniehill and Billy Williams Jr. - who were also charged in the same count of money laundering with Crittenden.

Crittenden does not face drug charges and none of the charges alleged in the indictment mention the Crossplex. Basically, Crittenden is charged through the indictment with letting one of the other two men buy a car in his name.