A former California peace officer has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to traffic firearms and the unlawful dealing and manufacturing of firearms without a license. Corey Harris, 34, from Exeter was arrested for his alleged involvement in the illegal transfer of firearms, including a stolen AK-style rifle and a machine gun, to someone he knew was a felon, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Between 2021 and 2023, Harris is accused of exploiting his authority as a law enforcement officer to obtain firearms and related accessories not readily available to the general public additionally he orchestrated the creation of these weapons, which included ghost guns—firearms that are typically untraceable due to a lack of serial numbers. The investigation leading to Harris's indictment was a collaborative effort among multiple agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and local police departments from Fresno, Selma, as well as the California Department of Cannabis Control and the California Department of Justice, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
While facing significant legal penalties, up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy charge, along with an additional five years and the same fine for unlawful manufacturing and dealing, Harris has not yet been convicted; "The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt," as clarified by the U.S. Attorney's Office. The prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Veneman-Hughes, who will present the case in court.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods, an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and improving community safety through a synergy of law enforcement efforts and community partnerships; the Department of Justice revised these efforts in May 2021, emphasizing the importance of trust and legitimacy in communities, supporting organizations aimed at preventing violence before it occurs with a focused approach on enforcement priorities, and most importantly, by measuring the resulting impact of these programs, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
