Byron Moreno, who is being held without bail, pleaded guilty to one count of heroin smuggling, spokesman Robert Nardoza said. He faces up to 5 years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines. No sentencing date was set.
Moreno was arrested in September at John F. Kennedy International Airport after arriving on a commercial flight from his native Ecuador with bags of heroin attached to his body, prosecutors said.
During a routine inspection, Moreno "became visibly nervous," according to a complaint filed in federal court in Brooklyn.
A customs agent felt "hard objects on the defendant's stomach, back and both of his legs," the complaint said. A strip search revealed that the lumps were 10 clear plastic bags containing more than 10 pounds of heroin, it said.
Moreno enraged Italian fans in 2002 when he ejected Francesco Totti, giving the Italian a second yellow card for an alleged dive in the penalty area 13 minutes into overtime of a 2-1 loss to South Korea in the World Cup's second round.
A 111th-minute goal by Italy's Damiano Tommasi that would have advanced the team was disallowed, apparently for offside, and South Korea was awarded a penalty kick -- that goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon saved -- for a foul by Christian Panucci against Seol Ki-Hyeon.
In 2003, Ecuadorean soccer officials suspended Moreno for 20 games after a match there drew complaints about him from both teams. He added 11 minutes of stoppage time to a game between domestic clubs Barcelona and Liga de Quito without recording it.
He resigned a short time later.
Moreno also refereed the United States' opening 3-2 upset of Portugal at the 2002 World Cup. (AP)