A former Visalia police officer has been indicted on federal firearms trafficking charges on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2025,, accused of illegally manufacturing and selling guns. (AP File)
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A former Visalia police officer has been indicted on federal charges of conspiracy to traffic firearms and unlawfully dealing in firearms without a license, federal prosecutors announced on Thursday in a news release.
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Corey Harris, 34, of Exeter, was charged after a federal grand jury returned an indictment against him.
Prosecutors allege that between 2021 and 2023, Harris — who was employed as a peace officer with the California Department of Cannabis Control at the time of his arrest — conspired to transfer firearms, including a stolen AK-style rifle, a Glock handgun, and a privately manufactured machine gun commonly known as a “ghost gun” to a known felon.
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Court documents state that Harris used his law enforcement status to obtain restricted firearms and accessories, manufacturing or directing the manufacture of weapons, including machine guns, without a federal firearms license.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation with assistance from multiple local and state law enforcement agencies.
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If convicted, Harris faces up to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to traffic firearms and up to five years for unlawful firearms dealing, along with fines, prosecutors said.
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