County Inspectors accused of corruption by extorting restaurants in ‘Operation Grease Trap’
Two Miami-Dade County inspectors have been arrested following a nearly year-long investigation into an alleged extortion scheme targeting local restaurant owners. Authorities say the inspectors exploited their positions to solicit bribes from small business owners in exchange for avoiding penalties and shutdowns.
‘Operation Grease Trap’ leads to arrests
The investigation into corruption, dubbed Operation Grease Trap, began in April 2024 after restaurant owners reported extortion attempts by county employees. Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz and State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced the arrests of Charles Bryant and Craig Bethel, both inspectors from the Miami-Dade Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM).
According to authorities, Bryant and Bethel visited restaurants, falsely claimed the businesses had grease trap violations, and then offered to dismiss the violations in exchange for cash payments. Victims reported feeling pressured to comply to avoid hefty fines or potential business shutdowns.
A month after the investigation began, in May 2024, police arrested Bryant. As the inquiry progressed, Bethel was also taken into custody.
State Attorney’s firm stance against corruption
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle emphasized the gravity of the case, stating, “Most county employees do their jobs honestly and effectively, and we rely on their integrity for public safety. The defendants’ alleged abuse of Miami-Dade County’s authority allowed them to extort cash from small business owners. These types of crimes can make residents cynical about our local government and our local authorities, giving the wrong impression that the government is for sale.”
She further reassured the public that her office remains committed to rooting out corruption, stating, “Fighting public corruption is a priority. We will not allow those entrusted with upholding the law to manipulate it for personal gain.”
Sheriff Cordero-Stutz echoed this sentiment, warning, “For any public servant who thinks that they can take a few dollars and put those dollars in their pockets, I have a message for you: keep looking over your shoulder because we’ll be coming for you.”
Charges and victim reports
The inspectors face multiple charges, including unlawful compensation, unlawful scheme to defraud, and official misconduct. Prosecutors revealed that over 15 businesses were targeted, with more than $14,000 allegedly extorted.
Authorities urge additional victims to step forward and report similar experiences to the State Attorney’s Office Public Corruption Hotline at 305-547-3300.
County response and preventive measures
Following the arrests, Miami-Dade County officials released a statement condemning the inspectors' actions. The county has since introduced reforms to prevent future misconduct, including equipping inspectors with body cameras and enhancing vehicle tracking systems.
“At Miami-Dade County, we hold our employees to the highest standards. As soon as we learned of the allegations, we launched an internal investigation and cooperated fully with law enforcement,” the statement read.
Authorities continue to investigate potential additional cases of misconduct and encourage the community to come forward with any relevant information.
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