EL PASO – A former El Paso police officer pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to maintain a drug-involved premise.

According to court documents, Monica Garcia, 24, conspired with Fred Saenz, her stepfather and co-defendant, to use Saenz’s residence to distribute cocaine. Agents determined that Saenz was using his residence and a separate stash location to store and distribute cocaine.  Garcia used her position as an El Paso police officer to provide information that helped Saenz avoid detection by law enforcement while he distributed cocaine.  Her activities included conducting counter-surveillance and running license plate registrations to identify undercover police vehicles near the residence and stash house.