MIAMI (AP) — A South Florida police officer has been sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison for his role in a marijuana distribution ring.

The sentence was imposed Wednesday on Lawrence Perez, a former Hialeah Gardens police detective. Perez was convicted in May by a jury of marijuana possession and distribution conspiracy charges.

Trial testimony showed that Perez conducted two traffic stops in 2010 of people known to be transporting marijuana. A total of 24 pounds of marijuana was stolen by Perez and his coconspirators during those stops.

The group also planned to steal marijuana plants from a grow house in July 2010. But authorities learned of the plot and raided the house themselves, seizing 629 marijuana plants as well as packaged marijuana.