MIAMI – A former Miami-Dade police officer has pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a conspiracy with the intent to distribute marijuana.

Roderick Silva, 45, entered the plea Thursday in federal court.

Silva was accused of helping others grow marijuana in numerous southwest Miami-Dade County homes that they owned and rented.

Among the people whom Silva helped was the Santiesteban family, who were convicted in 2013 for their participation in the distribution of more than 1,000 marijuana plants, according to court documents. The co-conspirators were sentenced to significant prison sentences for their participation.

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Silva provided the group with confidential information about when they were being investigated, told them when they might have their grow houses searched and offered advice about to how to avoid being caught.

He faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years in prison when he is sentenced in July.

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