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Former San Ramon Officer Pleads Guilty To Drug Theft

SAN RAMON (KCBS) – Former San Ramon Police Officer Louis Lombardi pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing drugs, money and property while serving search warrants and making arrests.

It's all part of the scandal in Contra Costa County involving the former top narcotics cop and a private detective.

It took an hour for Lombardi, 39, to admit guilt to nearly one dozen federal charges that took place while he was a member of the Contra Costa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, or CNET. He admitted to taking methamphetamines, marijuana, $43,000 in cash, jewelry, whiskey, and sunglasses.

KCBS' Bob Melrose Reports:

During this time Lombardi worked under Norman Wielsch, who headed CNET. Wielsch and private eye Chris Butler are also accused of setting up men to be arrested for DUIs after their wives paid the two to catch them so that they could win child custody, or alimony cases. Lombardi, however, is not charged in the so-called "dirty DUI" case.

Lombardi's lawyer Dirk Manoukian said that his client will cooperate with federal authorities, which includes testifying.

"To go into an institution that houses people that he spent over 20 years putting in those facilities is very difficult," said Manoukian.

Lombardi, who faces more than 60 years in prison, was sent back into custody and is awaiting sentencing in mid-April.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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