3 Miami Cops Accused Of Taking Drug Money

MIAMI, FL — Three city of Miami police officers have been accused of allegedly accepting thousands of dollars in what they believed was drug money to protect cocaine and opioid operations in the city, according to Miami police and federal officials. During one recorded conversation, one of the officers allegedly said she didn't care if she was protecting a "dead body cut up in pieces."

The officers were identified in court documents as Schonton Harris, Kelvin Harris and James Archibald. The alleged illegal activities took place between April and October of this year. Two of the officers were longtime members of the department.

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Miami Police Chief Jorge R. Colina attended an afternoon press conference along with U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of Miami, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and FBI Special Agent Robert Lasky of the Miami Field Division to announce the charges.

"I hope these arrests serve as a warning to any officer who would break their oath, shame our ranks and dishonor our badge," said the chief. "There is no refuge for you here. If you are corrupt, we will find you and you will answer for your crimes."

The officers were charged with conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute, attempting to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the charges, the officers face maximum sentences of life in prison with minimum mandatory sentences of 10 years and mandatory consecutive sentences of five-years in prison.

"The officers in this case participated in the scheme to protect individuals that were money launders and narcotics traffickers in exchange for cash payments," said U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan. "These three officers collectively provided protection and transportation for the distribution of cocaine, opioids and drug proceeds."

During one recorded conversation, Schonton Harris allegedly could be heard discussing whether she had concerns about protecting shipments of narcotics.

"Schonton Harris stated: "With me, I don't give a f----," court documents state. "You can tell me, I still won't care. I don't care if it's a dead body cut up in pieces."

On another occasion she allegedly sold a Miami Police Department 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 hitman.

She also allegedly said that Archibald — one of the two officers she recruited — would simply "disappear" if he presented an issue.

"The investigation also revealed that one officer, Schonton Harris, used and dealt narcotics while she was a police officer," added Fajardo Orshan. "She used to rig the testing so that she would be able to give a clear sample test if ever asked by the department."

Court documents said Schonton Harris was the first of the officers to agree to accept cash payments to protect people she believed to be money laundering couriers and narcotics traffickers.

"Schonton Harris eventually recruited two other MPD officers, Kelvin Harris and James Archibald, to participate in the scheme," according to court documents.

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

"Video and/or audio recordings were made throughout the investigation which ultimately involved the defendants collectively providing protection to the transportation and distribution of purported cocaine, opioids or drug proceeds," court documents said.

"After each protection detail, the defendants received cash payments," the documents said. "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."

In recorded conversations, the FBI's confidential source told Schonton Harris that she had been taking payments to protect couriers moving cash from the illegal sale of opioids, particularly the drug Percocet, according to court documents.

From left to right: James Archibald, Schonton Harris and Kelvin Harris. Photos courtesy Miami Police Department.