No Halo News · Sourced development
Memphis land bank board fired CEO following alleged personal use of an organization credit card
The Memphis Metropolitan Land Bank Authority board unanimously fired CEO Michael O. Harris on September 23. A board resolution cited alleged personal charges on an organization credit card, withheld post-termination compensation and reserved the authority’s right to recover improperly charged amounts. Reporting also said the authority had laid off its staff in June.
Status matters. This page records a sourced development, not a completed No Halo investigation. An allegation is not a finding. Dismissals, settlements, judgments, corrections and final outcomes remain distinct.
Donor relevance
Why this matters
The authority is a city-funded charitable land bank. Alleged personal spending, the termination of its chief executive and earlier staff layoffs create significant questions about financial controls, operational capacity and stewardship of public and charitable resources.
Attribution
Who reported or established this
The alleged misuse was cited in a board resolution obtained by the Memphis Commercial Appeal; the City of Memphis confirmed the termination.
Evidence limits
What remains unverified
No Halo has not established which purchases were personal, the total amount involved, whether an audit or law-enforcement investigation will substantiate the allegations, or whether money will be recovered.
Right of reply
Organization response
The City of Memphis said it respected the board’s action, would cooperate with any audit or investigation and supported a transparent review. Harris did not respond to the news outlet’s request for comment.
Classification
How No Halo records this event
Event type: Governance Leadership Change. Current state: Reported. No Halo preserves the current procedural state rather than treating every mention as a finding.
Published September 28, 2026 · Last verified October 1, 2026. See an error or a later outcome? Submit a correction or right of reply.