Los Angeles arrest of NC employee accused of crime involving child

A North Carolina state employee of nearly three decades is facing criminal charges.

Harlan Frye, 62, who was director of human resources at the North Carolina Department of Revenue, has not been employed by the agency since June 10, WRAL Investigates has learned.

Frye was arrested June 9 in Long Beach, California, for “arranging to meet a child for lewd purposes.” The arrest was filmed and posted on YouTube.

According to the Long Beach Police Department, a preliminary investigation indicates that Frye arranged to meet a minor for lewd purposes. The “minor” was a cyber vigilante who worked undercover but was not employed by any law enforcement agency, and he called the police during the meeting.

The video shows a man confronted Fry has Hyatt Hotel in California and asking him various questions.

In the video, the two go out and the YouTuber asks Frye why he was on an online application to solicit a minor.

In the video, Frye can be heard saying, “I I've never done it with someone so young…I'm trying to help the kids.”

Frye goes on to say that the person he was supposed to meet was a 15-year-old and that he may have wanted to have sex with him. At the end of the video, Long Beach police arrive on the scene and place Frye in handcuffs.

The man who posted the YouTube video is TikToker “Black Biden,” known for taking videos of suspected child predators in Long Beach.

Frye was booked into the Los Angeles County Jail around 9 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, and released on Thursday, June 13, according to online records.

The California Penal Code makes it a misdemeanor to arrange a meeting with a minor under the age of 18 with the intent to engage in sexual conduct during the meeting. If convicted, the crime is punishable by up to four years in prison and the person must register as a sex offender.

WRAL has reached out to Frye and the Department of Revenue for additional comment and clarification on the matter. So far, no response has been received from either party.

In his online professional biography, Frye claims to have coached youth basketball both in Raleigh region and in the Los Angeles area.

Frye began working for the state in 1993 before being promoted to director of human resources for the North Carolina Department of Revenue.

The North Carolina Department of Revenue confirmed that Frye was employed as a human resources director from April 4, 2022 to June 10, 2024.

Frye's LinkedIn says he went to North Carolina A&T, where, according to the website, he was previously director of basketball operations. According to the university, Frye worked there until the 2013-2014 season.

State records show Frye made about $143,000 in his state position.