Former West Mifflin police chief Frank Diener pleaded guilty to three federal drug charges today and was simultaneously accused of 19 more crimes in Allegheny County court.

Mr. Diener, 57, admitted possessing cocaine and marijuana with intent to deliver and also pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in federal court.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Pittsburgh, Mr. Diener took the drugs from the borough police evidence room.

Prosecutors said he engaged in a pattern of corruption for more than a year, including instructing officers to fix cases. They allege that after he learned in March that he was being investigated by the FBI, he gave asked a person to hold drugs and then asked that person to destroy them.

Mr. Diener is to be sentenced in October.

Also today, county District Attorney Stephen Zappala filed a 19-count criminal complaint against Mr. Diener. The crimes, which occurred between 1994 and 2006, primarily involve thefts. The offenses occurred when he was chief, according to a statement from Mr. Zappala.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.