Anti-Drug Colonel Pleads Guilty

An Army colonel who once commanded the military’s anti-drug operation in Colombia pleaded guilty to a federal charge in New York City, admitting that he knew his wife was laundering drug money but failed to turn her in. James Hiett, 48, entered the plea as his wife, Laurie Hiett, sank her face into her hands and sobbed from a bench in the first row of the courtroom. He faces up to three years in prison and $250,000 in fines when he is sentenced June 23. Federal sentencing guidelines call for him to spend from one to one and a half years in prison. Laurie Hiett pleaded guilty in January to drug-conspiracy charges; she faces from seven to nine years in prison. After his plea, Hiett hugged his wife and left the courthouse holding her hand.