2 Former Miami Cops Sentenced To Prison For Drug Conspiracy

MIAMI, FL — Two former Miami police officers were sentenced Friday to 27.5 and 10 years in federal prison respectively for their roles in a three-way drug-trafficking conspiracy in which a third former officer brazenly declared in an undercover recording that she didn't care if she was protecting a "dead body cut up in pieces."

Kelvin Harris and James Archibald were each convicted by a federal jury on June 28 of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute more than 5 kilos of cocaine back in 2018. Harris was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga to 27.5 years in prison and Archibald was sentenced to 10 years.

U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan in Miami and Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro, of the FBI Miami Field Office announced the sentences.

Former Officer Schonton Harris earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute it after accepting thousands of dollars in what she believed was drug money to protect cocaine and opioid operations in the city, according to federal prosecutors. She was sentenced to 15-and-a-half years in federal prison.

The alleged illegal activities took place between April and October of 2018. Both Harris and Archibald were convicted of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute more than 5 kilos of cocaine in 2018.

Harris, who had been on the police force for twenty-six years, was also convicted of three counts of attempting to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and three counts of possessing a firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking crime.

Archibald, who had been an officer for two years, was also convicted of one count of attempting to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.

Schonton Harris was also accused of selling a Miami Police uniform to an undercover FBI employee posing as a high-level drug trafficker for $1,000 and a city of Miami police badge for $500 with the understanding they would be used by a hit man.

She also allegedly said that Archibald — whom she recruited along with the other officer — would simply "disappear" if he presented an issue.

The investigation involved the use of a confidential human source, undercover FBI personnel and other law enforcement officers, government officials said.

Court documents said that investigators used video and audio recordings to establish that the former officers collectively provided protection for the transportation and distribution of purported cocaine, opioids or drug proceeds.

The officers received cash payments after each protection detail, according to the documents.

"Individuals who use the badge for their own personal gain have no place in law enforcement," Piro said earlier. "We commend the city of Miami Police Department for their close cooperation and commitment throughout this investigation."

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, including the FBI Miami Area Corruption Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry C. Wallace, Jr. and Jessica Obenauf.

"In total, Schonton Harris received $17,000 in bribe payments, Kelvin Harris received $10,000 in bribe payments and James Archibald received a total of $6,500 in bribe payments," court documents said.

Harris and Schonton Harris, provided police protection for what they believed to be multiple-kilogram shipments of cocaine. Archibald assisted on at least one occasion by assisting his codefendants in transporting what all three officers believed to be cocaine from a local marina to two local hotels

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry C. Wallace, Jr. and Jessica Obenauf.