Providence police say they're aware of email that put assistant principal on leave

(WJAR) — The Providence Police Department confirmed to NBC 10 it is aware of a controversial email from Mount Pleasant High School's assistant principal who has since been placed on leave.

In an email sent to teachers on Thursday night, Mount Pleasant High School Assistant Principal Stefani Harvey asked staff to help pay a $2,000 debt owed by a student who she said was smuggled into the country by a coyote.

The Department of Justice defines coyotes as "human smugglers."

The email stated: "We have a student who came to America with 'Coyote,' which is a group that helps people. This group gives you a time frame to make a payment of $5000 dollars to those, who bring them to the states."

The email said the student needed an additional $2,000 to meet the $5,000 goal by Feb. 1, 2023.

According to the Department of Justice, migrants pay coyotes fees to guide them across the border as part of a billion-dollar business.

• CRISIS IN THE CLASSROOM: Assistant principal put on paid leave over email soliciting money for human smuggler

While the Providence Public School District and Rhode Island Department of Education confirmed the email is legitimate, not much is known on how the situation unfolded or any information about the student.

Harvey has since been placed on leave and the school district confirmed it's investigating the email.

Police told NBC 10 they are working with the district and are offering help to the family involved.