Schonton Harris, Kelvin Harris, James Archibald, Drug Trafficking, Florida 2018

Three City of Miami Police Officers have been charged with federal drug trafficking charges after a lengthy investigation.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, Officers Schonton Harris, Kelvin Harris, and James Archibald 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, the defendants each face a life sentence in prison, a mandatory-minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, and a consecutive sentence of 5 years in prison if convicted of the armed drug trafficking offense.

The criminal complaint alleges that the officers provided protection to the transportation and distribution of cocaine, opioids, and drug proceeds in exchange for cash payments. The officers believed they were protecting money launderers and narcotics traffickers, but were actually engaged in a criminal enterprise with undercover federal officers.

Officer Schonton Harris allegedly provided protection for a courier who was collecting drug proceeds from pharmacies and clinics engaged in the illegal sale of opioids and then depositing the money into a bank. She also allegedly acted as a police protection escort for a shipment of 2,000 prescription opioid pills and multiple kilograms of cocaine.

Officer Kelvin Harris later joined the protection scheme, and together with Officer Schonton Harris, provided police protection for a money launderer. They then allegedly escorted a multi-kilogram shipment of sham cocaine. Officer Archibald actively joined the drug trafficking conspiracy in September 2018 and allegedly provided police protection for a 40-kilogram delivery of sham cocaine.

The officers also allegedly transported 30-kilograms of sham cocaine from a Miami-area marina to Miami-area hotels. Rather than protecting the couriers, the officers allegedly personally took possession of the sham cocaine.

Officer Schonton Harris was also accused of selling a City of Miami Police uniform and badge to an undercover officer for $1,500.

The investigation was initiated by the City of Miami Internal Affairs and developed with the leadership of the FBI's Miami Area Corruption Task Force.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/criminal-complaint-charges-three-city-miami-police-department-officers-federal-drug