Retired Wichita police officer pleads guilty to embezzling, mail fraud in federal case

A retired Wichita police officer indicted for embezzling public funds and mail fraud pleaded guilty to the charges Tuesday in federal court.

Kevin P. Vaughn, in his plea, admitted to falsifying documents so he and his company, Red Mist Tactical, would be paid $56,400 for providing armed engagement training for law enforcement even though some of it didn’t take place, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said in a prepared statement. The money for the training came from a U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency grant.

According to Beall, Vaughn falsely reported dates of training that took place in McPherson last spring and forged officers’ signatures on the sign-up sheets; claimed he provided twice as much training for the Wichita Police Department as actually occurred on May 22, 2015; and lied about training officers in Sumner County on seven days last April and May.

Initially he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Vaughn, 51, faces up to 10 years in prison on the embezzlement count and up to 20 years in prison for mail fraud, plus fines, when he is sentenced Nov. 16, Beall said. He served 28 years with the Wichita Police Department before retiring in March 2015.

This story was originally published August 23, 2016 at 3:37 PM with the headline "Retired Wichita police officer pleads guilty to embezzling, mail fraud in federal case."