CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Two former Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges Wednesday morning.

Gerald Holas Jr., 35, and Jason Ross, 35, each entered guilty pleas in federal court to a charge of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine.

The two were arrested and resigned last month after a nearly year-long investigation. Federal agents said they helped protect an accused drug dealer by tipping him off to raids and by providing other confidential information that helped him get revenge on one of his enemies. The two later told investigators they were protecting the dealer in exchange for information they could use to arrest the man's suppliers and customers.

“This was not a matter of personal profit and padding of their bank accounts and putting drugs on the street, but a terribly misguided and criminal effort to work an informant, and in so doing, they were facilitating his drug business,” said Holas’ attorney Tony Scheer.

Holas and Ross will each receive a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. With the plea deal, prosecutors will recommend the minimum sentence. If the case had gone to trial, they could have received the maximum sentence of life in prison. A judge will have the final say.

The former officers remain in federal custody pending their sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

Holas' relatives were emotional as they left court. One relative said, "I'm just glad that he's alive, and I'm glad it's over."

Ross' family didn't come to court. His lawyer, Chris Fialko, said he didn't want media coverage upsetting them.

"I told my client's family, who is very supportive of him, not to endure that again, so they didn't come," he said.