A former World Cup soccer referee was jailed for 30 months Friday for attempting to smuggle heroin through New York City's JFK Airport.
Byron Moreno made a successful career for himself as a soccer commentator on television and radio channels in Ecuador after his officiating days came to an end.
But a change in his personal circumstances became the motivating force that propelled the 41-year-old to take a gamble on smuggling drugs past US Customs inspectors.
"He was in debt. Personal debt. He was just in over his head, and he made a very foolish choice. And now he's going to pay for it," his defense attorney, Michael Padden, said after the hearing in Brooklyn federal court.
Moreno's arrest in Sept. 2010 came after he stepped off a flight from Ecuador and customs inspectors noticed he appeared "visibly nervous" during routine questioning.
A strip search revealed more than 13-and-a-half pounds (6kg) of heroin strapped to Moreno's stomach and legs.
Moreno, who pleaded guilty to the drug charges, apologized Friday. "I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart. I'm very sorry," he said.
Before launching his television career, Moreno was a high-profile referee in the world of Latin American professional soccer.
One of the more controversial calls in his officiating career came at the 2002 FIFA World Cup during a tense game between Italy and South Korea. Moreno ejected Italy's star striker Francesco Totti, giving the Italian a second yellow card for allegedly diving in the penalty area.
The disputed call came 13 minutes into overtime in the World Cup's second round and enraged Italian fans, who blamed Moreno for their team's failure to achieve the soccer world's ultimate prize.
