Indictment Charges Three City of Miami Police Department Officers with Federal Drug Trafficking Offenses

U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Miami Field Office, and Jorge R. Colina, Chief of the City of Miami Police Department (MPD), today announced the indictment of City of Miami Police Officers Schonton Harris, Kelvin Harris, and James Archibald for their involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy.  

Schonton Harris, Kelvin Harris and Archibald were charged by indictment with conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute it, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846; and attempting to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute it, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846 and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2.  If convicted of the conspiracy and attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine charges, the defendants each face life in prison and a mandatory-minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The indictment alleges that from August 2018 to approximately October 23, 2018, Officers Schonton Harris, Kelvin Harris and James Archibald were involved in a scheme to possess with intent to distribute cocaine (Count 1).  On September 13,, 2018, Officers Schonton Harris and Kelvin Harris are alleged to have attempted to possess 500 grams or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute it (Count 2).  Also, on September 28 and October 11, 2018, Officers Schonton Harris, Kelvin Harris and James Archibald allegedly attempted to possess with the intent to distribute 5 or more kilograms of cocaine (Counts 3 and 4).

An indictment is a charging instrument containing allegations.  All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commends the investigative efforts of the FBI, the FBI Miami Area Corruption Task Force and MPD in this matter.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry Wallace and Jessica Obenauf.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.