LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - A federal judge released two Little Rock police officers accused of aiding the transportation of marijuana from custody, pending their court proceedings.

Mark Jones and Randall Robinson face federal charges of conspiring and attempting to aid and abet the possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.

A lengthy investigation found both men allegedly provided security to a confidential human source trafficking more than one thousand pounds of marijuana. Prosecutors claim the officers escorted the shipment while on duty and in uniform with marked patrol cars.

While Jones and Robinson had also been charged with possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime , Jones' attorney, Ronald L. Davis Jr., says due to a lack of evidence, that charge has been dropped.

"I thought it was a fair decision based on the evidence and testimony that was presented or more importantly on the evidence that was not presented," said Davis.

Davis says there will be conditions for the release. Jones will be on home detention and be subject to electronic monitoring. Both of the former police officers will also be subject to drug testing.

"The issue is not whether or not, at this point, they have been found to be guilty of anything. The question is whether or not they ought to be detained and I think the judge reached a fair decision based on the information available to him," said Davis.

Jones continues to deny allegations of any wrong doing at this point. However, a federal affidavit says both Jones and Robinson accepted thousands of dollars in exchange for their services. Now, it will be up to a federal grand jury to review the evidence and bring and indictment against Robinson and Jones.

Since his arrest, Robinson has resigned from the Little Rock Police Department. A spokesperson from the department says Jones' employment was terminated as of Friday.

If convicted, the former officers could face up to forty years in prison.