The Memphis Metropolitan Land Bank Authority has fired its CEO, the City of Memphis confirmed to the Commercial Appeal, for misusing the organization's credit card.
According to a resolution shared with the CA by the city, Harris was fired on Sept. 23 after a unanimous vote from the land bank's board of directors. Allegedly, Harris used the credit card for personal expenses, but the resolution did not confirm what Harris used the credit card to buy.
"We respect the board's actions and will cooperate with MMLBA on any audit or investigation," the city said in an email statement. "We support a thorough and transparent review of the facts."
Harris did not respond to requests for comment at the time of publication.
The land bank is a nonprofit established
by the Memphis City Council, and funded by the City of Memphis, making it a quasi-governmental organization. It was created with the main purpose of eliminating blighted properties and
The Daily Memphian first reported Harris' firing.
Harris not entitled to 'post-termination compensation'
The resolution firing Harris said he was to be "terminated effective immediately" and that he was not "entitled to the 180-day post-termination compensation."
"Be it further resolved, that MMLBA reserves all rights and remedies available under the contract and applicable law, including the right to seek recovery of any amounts improperly charged to MMLBA credit cards or accounts by Mr. Harris," the resolution read.
Harris is the latest in a string of Memphis and Shelby County officials who have faced trouble for their alleged misuse of credit cards. Bacarra Mauldin, the former Memphis Area Transit Authority interim CEO, was fired in 2025 after investigators found thousands of dollars of questionable expenses.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee indicted Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk Tami Sawyer on wire fraud charges, alleging she used public credit cards for personal use.
Harris was previously the executive director of the Greater Whitehaven Economic Redevelopment Corporation and lost in the Democratic primary election for Shelby County assessor of property to Javier Bailey.
Lucas Finton covers crime, policing, jails, the courts and criminal justice policy for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached by phone or email: (901)208-3922 and Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com, and followed on X @LucasFinton.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis land bank CEO fired over misuse of organization's credit card
