Corruption Scandal Leads to Arrest of Two Restaurant Inspectors in Miami-Dade

Miami-Dade authorities have detained two food inspectors after uncovering an extortion scheme operating within the county's Department of Environmental Resources Management. The officials, named as Charles E. Bryant II and Craig A. Bethel, are facing charges of illegal compensation, fraud, and official misconduct.

The operation, dubbed "Grease Trap," was initiated in April 2024 following reports from several restaurant owners who claimed county inspectors were threatening to shut down their establishments or impose hefty fines unless bribes were paid. Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz and Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle explained in a press briefing that the accused used fake inspections as a cover to demand cash from restaurant owners, alleging supposed violations in their grease traps. "Owners felt robbed. It was their livelihood, and they were forced to choose between facing penalties, shutting down, or paying these individuals hundreds of dollars," Fernández Rundle stated.

Details of the Corrupt Operation

Investigations revealed that the accused acted independently, despite working out of the same office. Bryant targeted his extortions in the southern region of Miami-Dade, while Bethel operated in the northern part of the county.

Evidence collected by the police shows Bryant frequented restaurants like Tani Thai, KimBop, and Fritanga Monimbo, where he issued fictitious penalties and demanded payments to "settle" the alleged violations. In May 2024, the owner of Fritanga Monimbo reported Bryant threatened to close her business unless she paid him $2,000, which she transferred through Zelle that same day.

Bethel, on the other hand, employed similar tactics in northern county restaurants, including La Peruanita. The owner of the establishment claimed the inspector had defrauded her multiple times. In November 2023, he returned to her location and demanded $200 to avoid a supposed fine. Initially, the owner refused, but due to Bethel's aggressive demeanor, she ended up paying him $240 out of fear of retaliation.

Legal Charges and Consequences

A month into the investigation, in May 2024, police arrested Bryant. Bethel was subsequently detained as the probe continued. The charges against them include:

• Illegal compensation: Receiving improper payments in exchange for favors or avoiding penalties.
• Fraudulent scheme: Crafting a deceitful system to gain illegal financial benefits.
• Official misconduct: Abusing their position to obtain personal advantages.

Authorities confirmed the scheme impacted at least 15 businesses and generated over $14,000 in illicit profits for the inspectors. However, they suspect there might be more victims. "One complaint led us to a second victim, which then led us to a second suspect. We believe there are more affected and possibly more people involved in this type of extortion," Sheriff Cordero-Stutz noted.

During a bail hearing, a judge set Bethel's bond at $85,000.

New Measures to Curb Corruption

In response to these arrests, Miami-Dade County has introduced new measures to curb corruption in inspections. Now, all inspectors will wear body cameras during visits, and their vehicles will be equipped with GPS tracking to monitor their movements.

Authorities have also urged the community to report any attempts of extortion. Any restaurant owner victimized by this scheme can contact the Public Corruption Unit of the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office at 305-599-3121 or the Miami-Dade Police at 305-4-POLICE (305-476-5423).

"We firmly believe there are more victims. It's a serious problem in our community, and we will not tolerate it," asserted Cordero-Stutz.

The Miami-Dade community hopes these arrests and the newly implemented measures will set a precedent for combating corruption and safeguarding small businesses from such abuses.