The Honolulu Police Department said it let go an officer who pleaded guilty in federal court to running a marijuana-growing operation.

The last day at HPD for Michael Steven Chu was last Thursday.

Chu and Athena Sui Lee pleaded guilty to conspiring to cultivate and distribute 48 marijuana plants and 49 pounds of marijuana after a police raid on their Honolulu apartment.

Chu could face up to five years in prison and $250,000 at his sentencing in December.