lauded narcotics detective makes mistake. leaves his McD receipt in drug package he steals from
Alone in his white Chevrolet Tahoe — outside the UPS global shipping hub where he worked with an elite task force to intercept drug shipments — Willett tore the packing tape off a box, pried open a metal safe and stole piles of cash totaling about $40,000.
But the Louisville Metro Police veteran, well trained in exposing criminals' missteps, made an elementary mistake of his own.
He used his credit card for the $4.76 McDonald's meal and then forgot to remove the receipt from the fast-food bag he crumpled and stuffed inside the box before sending the package on its path to Oakland, California.
Willett didn't know that a West Coast drug interdiction task force anxiously awaited its delivery. A judge had already signed a search warrant to allow investigators to open the package, as it was expected to contain valuable evidence.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/how-a-mcdonalds-receipt-crippled-an-elite-drug-fighting-team/ar-AAyPxc6?li=BBnb7Kx&ocid=iehp
Many narcotics detectives trusted Willett.
Lauded as one of Louisville Metro Police's most accomplished detectives, Willett was once featured on the true crime TV show "The First 48," discussing key evidence seized in a double homicide.
And sometimes when the task force supervisor couldn't be on site, he was left in charge.
But in June 2016, the phone rang at the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. California police were on the other line with details about how their drug investigation hit a snag when the $40,000 in cash, their evidence, was stolen.
= new reply since forum marked as read
