21-02-2025
Former Kanas City police officer found guilty of charity fraud scheme
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A former Kansas City, Missouri police officer was convicted in federal court this week for a for his own personal expenses.
Aaron Wayne McKie, 47, was found guilty on Thursday of nine counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering.
McKie worked as a KCPD officer for 24 years, assigned to the Crime Free Multi-Housing section from 2002 through 2023.
McKie served from 2009 to 2023 as president of Mid-America Crime Free, Inc. (MACF), a nonprofit organization that claimed to provide training to persons in the rental housing industry and promote anti-crime programs. He was an officer of the charity for three years prior, from 2006 to 2009.
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Evidence revealed during the trial indicated that McKie devised a scheme to defraud MACF and its donors that began in July 2009 and lasted until October 2023. Individuals and businesses contributed $387,620 to MACF, not including in-kind donations. McKie spent at least $200,060 for his own personal purposes.
The biggest source of MACF funds was an annual golf tournament, 'Fairways 4 Fuzz Golf Tournament.' Individuals and businesses donated both money and in-kind donations, such as food and beverages, to MACF via the golf tournament.
At least 121 donors have been identified.
From 2009 to 2023, the flyers soliciting donations and players for the tournament claimed the funds raised would enable MACF to provide free seminars to owners of rental properties and train police officers.
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According to the Department of Justice, KCPD paid the salaries and expenses of Crime Free Multi-Housing unit officers who may have provided training to landlords; McKie used the majority of MACF funds for personal spending; and the IRS had revoked the organization's tax exempt status in 2010.
McKie would face up to 20 years in federal prison without parole on each of the 10 counts on which he was convicted.
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