Ex-Houston officer convicted for trafficking cocaine and helping Zetas drug cartel

Noe Juarez (Photo Credit: FOX News Latino)

HOUSTON (AP) -- A former Houston police officer faces up to 30 years in prison after being convicted of helping a Mexican cartel traffic drugs.

Noe Juarez was convicted Friday by a federal jury in New Orleans. Jurors found the 47-year-old Juarez guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

Prosecutors say Juarez became involved with an international conspiracy that reached Louisiana and distributed drugs across the U.S. Authorities say Juarez helped drug runners by sharing police tactics, running license plate numbers and selling or supplying them with weapons and body armor.

Some meetings between Juarez and a government informant were videotaped.

The officer was relieved of his law enforcement duties after being indicted last year.

Juarez faces sentencing this spring.