PALM COAST, Fla. — Two Palm Coast brothers identified as leading members of a cocaine trafficking organization have been sentenced to prison following a yearslong investigation that uncovered nearly 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, more than $100,000 in cash, firearms and luxury merchandise.
Claude Harris, 38, also known as “Lip,” was sentenced to 14.5 years in prison, while his younger brother, John Harris, 36, received a 3.5-year prison sentence.
The convictions stemmed from “Operation Loose Lips,” a multi-agency investigation led by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit and FBI Jacksonville, with assistance from federal and neighboring county law enforcement agencies.
Claude Harris pleaded no contest to cocaine trafficking and money laundering following his June 5, 2026, arrest. Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols sentenced him October 28, with credit for time already served. All seized assets were forfeited.
John Harris, who was arrested June 6, pleaded no contest to a charge of sale or possession of cocaine. He also received credit for time served.
Investigation Uncovers Cocaine Trafficking and Money Laundering Operation
According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, investigators identified Claude Harris, John Harris and Aleah Fagan, 31, of Palm Coast, as top-level members of a large-scale cocaine trafficking organization operating in the area.
Detectives determined that the organization used a local trucking business to move large amounts of cash and jewelry as part of a scheme to launder proceeds from drug sales.
Investigators said John Harris coordinated the movement of illegal proceeds at his brother’s direction, while Fagan maintained a stash house used by the organization.
The investigation culminated in a series of arrests and searches across Palm Coast in June.
On June 5, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office deputies, assisted by Homeland Security Investigations and Flagler County detectives, conducted a felony traffic stop near Matanzas Woods Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway.
Claude Harris was arrested during the operation on a cocaine trafficking charge.
The following day, Flagler County Special Investigations Unit detectives and SWAT members executed a search warrant at 27 Egan Drive in Palm Coast.
Inside the residence, investigators recovered more than 200 grams of cocaine, approximately $13,000 in cash, three firearms, five vehicles and designer handbags, shoes and clothing.
The investigation resulted in additional charges against Claude Harris, including cocaine trafficking, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful use of a two-way communications device and possession of cocaine with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school or park.
Searches Uncover Prescription Drugs, Fentanyl and Morphine
On June 10, investigators executed three additional search warrants at residences located at 40 Pine Brook Drive, 20 Angela Drive and 85 Farragut Drive in Palm Coast.
The searches involved the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and other sheriff’s office units.
At the Angela Drive residence, detectives discovered numerous prescription medications, including a vial of fentanyl citrate and two vials of morphine.
Investigators also recovered clear plastic bags and a digital scale coated with a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine.
Fagan was arrested on three counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of a harmful new legend drug without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia.
At the time of her arrest, Fagan was employed as a nurse at Halifax Health in Daytona Beach.
Flagler County investigators are examining whether she used her position at the hospital to divert prescription medications. The Volusia Bureau of Investigation is assisting with that portion of the investigation.
Fagan was released on a $6,400 bond, and her criminal case remains pending.
Additional Drug Charges Filed Against Brothers
On June 22, Claude Harris was charged with additional offenses stemming from the investigation, including sale of cocaine, money laundering, cocaine trafficking, unlawful use of property for drug trafficking activities and unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
On September 2, Flagler County detectives assigned to the Special Investigations Unit, assisted by the Problem Area Crime Enforcement Unit, arrested John Harris after observing a suspected narcotics transaction at a residence on Emerson Drive in Palm Coast.
He was charged with selling cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school or park and violating probation.
Both brothers had previous encounters with law enforcement.
According to the sheriff’s office, John Harris had previously been arrested on charges including lewd and lascivious battery, robbery with a firearm, burglary with a firearm, cocaine sales and probation violations.
Claude Harris had previous arrests involving domestic battery, criminal mischief and driving with a suspended license.
Nearly $101,000 in Cash, Eight Vehicles and Five Guns Seized
By the conclusion of Operation Loose Lips, investigators had seized:
- Nearly 1.5 kilograms of cocaine
- $100,969 in cash
- Eight vehicles
- Five firearms
- Hundreds of designer shoes, handbags and clothing items
- Dozens of pieces of jewelry
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said the investigation demonstrated the department’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking organizations operating in the county.
“Drug traffickers who bring cocaine into our community and profit from poisoning lives should know that we will pursue them, dismantle their organization, and hold them accountable,” Staly said.
He credited cooperation among local, state and federal investigators for the operation’s results.
“This investigation proves that if you are a drug trafficking organization operating in Flagler County, we work with our federal, state and county partners with one common goal: making our community safer and getting poison off the streets and you into prison,” Staly said.
The operation involved the FBI Jacksonville, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and Volusia Sheriff’s Office, along with Flagler County investigators.
Claude Harris remains at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility awaiting transfer to the Florida Department of Corrections.
John Harris has already been transferred to state prison custody.