Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly wore a diamond “money bag” necklace seized during a raid as he displayed luxury goods and other items taken from alleged drug traffickers in Florida.
The jewellery was shown alongside designer shoes, handbags and clothing at a press conference following the arrests of brothers Claude Harris, 38, and John Harris, 36. Claude Harris’s girlfriend, 31-year-old Aleah Fagan, was also arrested.
The seizure followed a years-long investigation known as Operation Loose Lips. Police had investigated the Harris brothers on and off for 15 years before making the arrests.
Authorities said the brothers were allegedly senior figures in a drug-trafficking and money-laundering operation. Items seized included eight cars, five guns, 1.5kg of cocaine and $100,969 in cash.
The haul also included jewellery and designer shoes, handbags and clothing said to be worth $100,000.
“That’s pretty good for someone that claimed he was only making $60,000 a year as a dump truck driver,” Sheriff Staly said.
Staly said investigators found cash hidden around the property, including money concealed inside a vacuum cleaner and an air fryer.
The seized items are due to be auctioned by the sheriff’s office to raise money for the local community.
John Harris pleaded no contest to the sale or possession of cocaine and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, with credit for time served.
Claude Harris pleaded no contest to cocaine trafficking and money laundering. He was sentenced to 14 and a half years in prison, also with credit for time served.
Fagan was charged with three counts of possessing a controlled substance without a prescription, possessing a harmful new legend drug without a prescription and possessing drug paraphernalia.
