EL PASO
A former El Paso police officer plead guilty Monday to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, officials stated.
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, according to officials.
On November 10, 2020, agents seized $14,405 from Saenz’s residence and 2.6. pounds of cocaine from a stash house he used. During the investigation, undercover agents bought quantities of cocaine from Saenz at his residence.
Garcia pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to maintain a drug-involved premise. A sentencing date for Garcia has not been set. She faces up to 20 years in prison, officials stated.
On July 26, 2021, Fred Saenz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.
Saenz faces up to 40 years in prison.