Corey Harris, Conspiracy to Traffic Firearms, California 2023

Fresno, CA - In a shocking turn of events, former police officer Corey Harris, 34, of Exeter, has been charged with conspiracy to traffic firearms and unlawful dealing and manufacturing of firearms without a license. According to court documents, Harris conspired with another individual to traffic in firearms between 2021 and 2023.

Harris, who was a peace officer with the California Department of Cannabis Control at the time of his arrest and a former officer with the Visalia Police Department, used his status as a police officer to obtain firearms and firearms accessories that ordinary citizens could not purchase. He manufactured or directed the manufacture of firearms, including machine guns, despite not having a federal firearms license.

The investigation, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Fresno Police Department, the Selma Police Department, the California Department of Cannabis Control, the California Department of Justice, and the Visalia Police Department, revealed that Harris conspired to transfer at least three firearms on three different occasions to a person he knew to be a felon, including a stolen AK-style rifle, a Glock handgun, and a privately manufactured machine gun.

Corey Harris, a former police officer, faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of conspiracy to traffic firearms. If convicted of unlawful dealing and manufacturing of firearms without a license, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Corey Harris, the defendant, is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The charges against him are only allegations, and the outcome of the case is still uncertain.

According to the indictment, Harris's crimes were committed between 2021 and 2023. The exact dates of the crimes are not specified in the press release.

Harris's case highlights the importance of accountability and transparency in law enforcement. As a former police officer, his actions were a betrayal of the public's trust, and he must face the consequences of his actions.

The investigation and prosecution of Harris's case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to reducing violent crime and gun violence in California.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/former-police-officer-charged-conspiracy-traffic-firearms