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Ex-Engineer Busted in Bribes-for-Contracts Scandal in Kansas City
A shocking federal indictment has been unsealed, charging a former staff engineer for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan., with taking bribes, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Willie D. Jones, 58, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with three counts of accepting bribes and five counts of money laundering. The indictment alleged Jones accepted three bribes — $6,740, $5,530 and $5,100 – from an individual who owned a company that obtained contracts to do street repairs for the Unified Government.
According to the indictment, Jones routed the bribe money through his bank account and an account belonging to Paradise Missionary Baptist Church of Kansas City, where Jones was a minister. The brazen scheme left officials stunned and questioning how such a blatant case of corruption slipped through the cracks.
The investigation was handled by the FBI, which uncovered evidence of the alleged bribes and money laundering. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt is prosecuting the case.
While the indictment only contains allegations, it paints a damning picture of Jones’s alleged involvement in the corruption. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each bribery count, and up to 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each money laundering count.
As the investigation continues, officials are left to wonder how widespread the corruption may have been. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of public corruption and the importance of holding those in power accountable.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The outcome of this case will be closely watched by the public and law enforcement officials alike.
Key Facts
- State: Kansas
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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