NEWARK, N.J. (AP)  -- With head bowed, a Passaic County sheriff's officer who is also a former Haledon council member admitted swapping cocaine in the evidence vault with sugar to conceal the theft.

Alan Souto pleaded guilty to stealing more than five kilograms of cocaine.

Federal prosecutors said the 20-year veteran of the sheriff's department stole upward of 40 kilos of cocaine during his time assigned to the evidence bureau.

The 40-year-old faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Souto has been suspended without pay since his arrest in February.