A former public works supervisor for the City of Opa-locka has avoided prison time with his cooperation in a wide-ranging FBI government corruption probe.
The Miami Herald reports that a federal judge on Thursday gave 50-year-old Gregory Harris three years of probation and community service for helping prosecutors strengthen their criminal case against other Opa-locka politicians and employees. He previously pleaded guilty to a single bribery charge.
Court documents show Harris conspired with other officials, including a former city manager and a former city commissioner, to extort illegal payments from business owners seeking various licenses and permits.
The FBI raided Opa-locka city offices last year. The city also is in the midst of a financial crisis that led Gov. Rick Scott to declare a fiscal emergency with appointment of a state oversight board.
