KC Reporter

A former police officer from Kansas City, Missouri, has been found guilty in a federal court for misusing over $200,000 in donations intended for an anti-crime charity. Aaron Wayne McKie, 47, was convicted on February 20 of nine counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering.

McKie had served as a police officer with the Kansas City Police Department for 24 years and was assigned to the Crime Free Multi-Housing section from 2002 until his retirement in 2023. He led Mid-America Crime Free, Inc. (MACF), a non-profit organization aimed at training rental housing industry professionals and promoting anti-crime initiatives, as its president from 2009 to 2023. Prior to that role, he was an officer of the charity between 2006 and 2009.

The trial revealed that McKie's fraudulent activities spanned from July 2009 to October 2023. During this period, individuals and businesses contributed $387,620 to MACF, excluding in-kind donations. However, McKie reportedly used at least $200,060 of these funds for personal expenses.

The primary fundraising event for MACF was the annual "Fairways 4 Fuzz Golf Tournament," which attracted monetary contributions as well as in-kind donations like food and beverages from at least 121 identified donors. Promotional materials falsely claimed that the tournament's proceeds would support free seminars for rental property owners and police training programs. Contrary to these claims, salaries and expenses related to such training were covered by the Kansas City Police Department itself. Furthermore, MACF's tax-exempt status had been revoked by the IRS in 2010.

Under federal law, each count carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison without parole. However, actual sentencing will be determined by the court based on advisory guidelines following a presentence investigation conducted by the United States Probation Office.

The jury deliberated for nine hours before delivering their verdicts to U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips after a trial commencing on February 10.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Hanson are prosecuting this case following an investigation by the FBI and the Kansas City Police Department.