MIAMI (AP) — A Miami-Dade police officer has been found guilty of drug charges.

Federal prosecutors announced Monday that Lawrence Perez was found guilty of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana plants and marijuana and attempting to possess with the intent to distribute over 100 marijuana plants.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 26. Perez faces a maximum sentence of up to 40 years in prison if convicted.

The state attorney’s office said in a press release that the former Hialeah Gardens Police Department detective conspired with a group of individuals to steal marijuana from suspects during traffic stops he conducted. Authorities say in 2010, he also conspired to invade a warehouse with a marijuana grow operation that had over 600 plants.

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