In an event that has shaken the trust within the Kansas City community, a police officer with the Kansas City Police Department has been federally indicted for charges that involve diverting $300,000 in donations to a charity for personal use. The officer, Aaron Wayne McKie, served as the president of Mid-America Crime Free, Inc. (MACF), which is meant to aid anti-crime initiatives, particularly by offering training for rental property owners and promoting anti-crime programs.
The indictment charges Aaron Wayne McKie, 46, with 14 counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering in an effort to steal $300,000 from the charity.
McKie has worked as a police officer for the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department for 24 years. Most of that time was with the Crime Free Multi-Housing section, according to the department.
He also served as president of Mid-America Crime Free, Inc. (MACF), from 2009 to 2023. The non-profit worked to train people and landlords with rental property with anti-crime initiatives.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, McKie, 46, is accused of spending at least $320,060 of the MACF’s funds on personal expenses, such as $125,989 on travel, entertainment, restaurants, and bars; $57,278 on retail and luxury items; $41,040 on direct transfers to personal accounts; $36,874 in cash withdrawals; $23,298 on household expenses; and $8,299 on personal tax payments. The revelations underscore a gross violation of public trust, painting a grim picture of an officer who was responsible for spearheading programs intended to better the community he served.
The primary source of the funds was identified as an annual golf tournament, “Fairways 4 Fuzz Golf Tournament,” which solicited donations from individuals and businesses under the pretense of funding free seminars and police training. However, the reality, as disclosed in the indictment, was that the Kansas City Police Department already covered the salaries and expenses of officers providing the landlord training.
The Kansas City Police Department was swift to react upon the suspicion of fraud by one of their officers. In a statement, they revealed that “In September of 2023, our department learned of potential fraud on the part of one of our officers and immediately began an investigation.” The officer in question was placed on suspension pending the result of the investigation, which was subsequently forwarded to the U.S. Attorney’s office for review.
This indictment raises serious questions about the oversight of charity funds and the mechanisms in place to prevent such abuses. The incident is a stark reminder of the need for accountability and transparency, especially when law enforcement officers, who are entrusted with upholding the law, are involved.
As the community grapples with the breach of trust, it is crucial to note that while McKie faces serious charges, in the American judicial system, an indictment is not a conviction. The charges presented in the indictment are accusations, and McKie is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The upcoming trial will be the venue where evidence supporting the charges must be presented, and a federal trial jury will determine McKie’s guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney and is under investigation by both the FBI and the Kansas City Police Department.
Relevant articles:
– Kansas City officer accused of spending $300k in stolen donations on own expenses, kctv5.com, 04/28/2024
– Kansas City police officer indicted for charity fraud scheme, WDAF FOX4 Kansas City, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 20:04:28 GMT
– Federal grand jury indicts Kansas City police officer, accused of misusing non-profit funds, KMBC Kansas City, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 22:31:00 GMT
– Kansas City, Missouri, police officer charged with stealing $300,000 in donations from anti-crime charity, KSHB 41 Kansas City News, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 20:31:42 GMT
– KCPD officer accused in $300,000 charity fraud scheme, Hays Post, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 12:08:27 GMT