SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Two Miami-Dade County employees are accused of ripping off at least 15 restaurants and using their government positions to do it, deputies said.
Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz and State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle held a press conference Wednesday afternoon to announce the arrests of Craig A. Bethel and Charles E. Bryant II.
Officials said the arrests occurred under a probe, dubbed Operation Grease Trap, which saw Bryant being arrested first in May 2024.
Bethel was arrested on Wednesday after further investigation.
Officials filed additional charges against Bryant when he was re-arrested on Wednesday.
“We’re here to discuss Operation Grease Trap, after calls were received with concerns by restaurant owners alleging extortion by county employees,” said Cordero-Stutz. “They were in there under the color of, ‘We’re coming to inspect these particular traps.’ There was no violation. They lied and said that there was a violation, and then the extortion occurred.”
Both suspects worked in the Miami-Dade County Division of Environmental Resources Management. They face several charges of extortion, unlawful compensation and organized scheme to defraud.
Officials said Bethel and Bryant took $14,000 from local businesses and restaurants after shaking down business owners and threatening them with phony violations and then asking for payment to make those violations go away.
“They felt like they were being robbed. It was their business on the one side; they were going to get violations or shut down, or they pay off this guy for a couple hundred dollars,” said Fernandez Rundle.
Detectives said Bryant would hit restaurants in South Miami-Dade such as Tani Thai, KimBop restaurant and Fritanga Monimbo.
The owner of Fritanga Monimbo told investigators Bryant visited her business in May 2024. In the report, the owner stated “that Bryant threatened her by saying that if she did not pay him, DERM would come to her business and shut it down.”
After that threat, the business owner “paid Bryant $2,000 via Zelle on the same date as the incident.”
While Bryant would scam business owners in the southern part of Miami-Dade, Bethel would target businesses in the northern part of the county, including La Peruanita Restaurant.
The owner told deputies Bethel scammed her more than once.
According to the arrest report, “Bethel returned to her establishment on November 22, 2023 and once again demanded a payment of $200. She described his demeanor as aggressive and emphasized that she felt compelled to comply with his demand due to fears of potential retaliation against her business.”
At first, the owner refused to pay him, but “ultimately, Bethel demanded a payment of $240 to resolve the fine, at which point the owners complied due to their fear of Bethel’s aggressive demeanor and attitude.”
Investigators said they believe there are more victims out there and urge the public to reach out to them.
“We wholeheartedly believe there are more victims out there. It is an important issue in our community, and it is not going to be tolerated,” said Cordero-Stutz.
In bond court, a judge set Bethel’s bond at $85,000.
Miami-Dade officials said they will make some changes following these arrests. Their inspectors will now be wearing body cameras and there will be a GPS tracking in their cars.
If you have any information that leads to an arrest or are a victim, contact the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office at 305-4-POLICE (305-476-5423).
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