Tresa Baldas

Detroit Free Press

Their nicknames were Hater and Bullet: Two Detroit cops who for years used their jobs to steal money and drugs from dealers, authorities say.

But the FBI caught on to Lt. David Hansberry and Officer Bryan Watson, triggering a federal investigation that would ensnare a total of five men: a lieutenant, two officers and two civilians — each of them charged with helping run a cocaine operation that could send them all to prison for years.

Today, three of those men will have their day in court as jury selection gets underway in the trial of Hansberry, Watson and their alleged associate Kevlin Omar Brown. Two others have pleaded guilty in the case and await sentencing.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in U.S. District Judge Stephen Murphy’s courtroom, where lawyers for both sides will try to seat an impartial panel to decide the fates of the three defendants.

Hansberry, Watson and Brown were indicted a year ago, months after Detroit Police Chief James Craig disbanded the department's troubled drug unit, and officers became the target of a federal investigation.

Detroit police officers accused of robbing drug dealers

According to court documents, Hansberry and Watson, who are facing a litany of charges, are accused of arranging drug transactions with civilians, including confidential sources, so that they could rob and extort them. Prosecutors have alleged that the two men carried out traffic stops and fake arrests, and then stole drugs, money and personal property from their victims.

Brown — referred to in court records as an "associate" of Hansberry — is charged with one count of interference with commerce by robbery or extortion.

All three men have denied the allegations.

Michael Harrison, Hansberry's attorney, has previously said that his client is "confident he'll be vindicated,” stressing that Hansberry has been a police officer since he was 18 years old, was promoted to sergeant at 25, then to lieutenant at 33 and “never had so much as a parking ticket"

Federal prosecutors tell a different story.

According to the indictment, Hansberry, 35, and Watson, 47, for years failed to log money and drugs seized during searches into evidence. Instead, prosecutors allege, the pair split the seized money and gave the drugs to dealers, who would sell them and then split the proceeds with the officers.

According to court records, the scheme operated from 2010 through 2014, during which the defendants are accused of using their status as police officers "to assist in their scheme." The indictment says they drove police vehicles, activated the lights, wore police clothing and badges, carried guns and carried out "pretext traffic stops and fake arrests" as part of the scheme.

Federal prosecutors say "Hansberry and Watson also allegedly identified themselves as police officers to coerce their victims into complying with their demands and to encourage their victims to flee, leaving behind illegal drugs, money and personal property."

Detroit narcotics unit's problems just won't go away

The two men who have pleaded guilty in the case are: