Ex-Corrections Sergeant Fleeced COVID Relief

Miami-Dade is no stranger to corruption, but this one stings. Arashio Harris, a former sergeant with the county’s corrections department, copped a plea deal this week, admitting he bilked COVID-19 relief programs out of over $294,000. He didn’t lift a finger to protect the public while he was on the payroll, and then he stole from those *most* in need during a pandemic. The feds weren’t impressed.

Harris didn’t just ask for help; he lied to get it. He submitted bogus applications for both Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), claiming his businesses were suffering when they likely weren’t, or weren’t suffering to the degree he claimed. It’s a classic hustle: exploit a crisis for personal gain. The man was entrusted to *enforce* the law, and he broke it in a big way.

The two companies Harris used as fronts were The Good Family Property Solutions Inc. and Flying Lions LLC. Details on what, if anything, those businesses actually *did* remain murky. It’s a common tactic for these schemes – create shell companies to funnel stolen funds, making it harder to trace the money back to the perpetrator. It’s a sloppy attempt to cover tracks, but it works often enough to keep the scams coming.

The haul? Harris snagged roughly $14,500 through EIDL loans and a staggering $279,551 via PPP loans. That’s money that could have kept legitimate businesses afloat, helped families pay rent, or put food on the table. Instead, it lined the pockets of a disgraced ex-sergeant. The feds are now working to recoup the stolen funds, but recovery is never guaranteed.

Wire fraud isn’t a victimless crime. It’s a felony that carries a hefty penalty. Harris is staring down the barrel of a potential 20-year prison sentence. That’s the maximum, and while a deal likely reduced the possible time, it’s a serious consequence for a serious offense. Federal prosecutors will be making their recommendations to the judge, and the court will consider Harris’s history and the impact of his actions.

Harris’s sentencing is scheduled for October 27, 2023. Consider this a warning: the feds *are* watching, and they *are* cracking down on COVID relief fraud. This isn’t a victimless crime, and the consequences will be severe. Grimy Times will be in the courtroom when the sentence is handed down. Don’t think you can get away with it.