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.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)