LOS ANGELES -- A former Long Beach police officer was sentenced Monday to eight years and one month in federal prison for taking part in a series of home-invasion robberies staged to look like legitimate police drug raids.

Joseph Ferguson, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary Allen Feess in downtown Los Angeles. He was convicted in January on three counts, including possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

His 35-year-old brother and co-defendant, former LAPD Officer William Ferguson, was also found guilty on similar charges.

According to federal prosecutors, the ring committed more than 30 home invasion robberies between early 1999 and June 2001. The ringleader, convicted ex-LAPD Officer Ruben Palomares, testified at the Fergusons' trial in January.

Joseph Ferguson drove his brother and Palomares to the Los Angeles Police Academy to steal LAPD squad cars used in the robberies. He also acted as a lookout while the other members of the ring robbed homes they believed stored drugs and cash.

The ring members -- which consisted of several Los Angeles area police officers -- sold the drugs they stole on the street for their own profit.

In some instances, the robbers received wrong information and robbed people.

Freddie Staves -- an admitted Compton drug dealer who testified at trial -- said the robbers tortured him and shoved a gun in his mouth when they couldn't find drugs or cash at his home.

Of the 19 total members of the robbery ring, 15 pleaded guilty, two are fugitives, and the Fergusons were found guilty by a jury.