Retired Wichita officer gets probation for embezzling, fraud

A retired Wichita police lieutenant who pleaded guilty to embezzling public funds and to mail fraud was ordered Wednesday to serve two years of federal probation, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.

Kevin P. Vaughn, 52, of Wichita admitted to falsifying reports to make it appear his business, Red Mist Tactical, provided 15 eight-hour firearms training courses to law enforcement agencies that it didn’t actually complete. The money that paid for the training – $56,400 – came from a federal grant awarded to the Kansas Highway Patrol and the North Central Regional Planning Commission from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency, Beall said.

Among offenses, Vaughn:

▪ Reported the wrong dates for training sessions that took place in McPherson so a contract deadline would appear to be met and forged officers’ signatures on sign-up sheets.

▪ Said the company provided eight hours of training during the Wichita Police Department Ladies Range Day on May 22, 2015, when it lasted half that time and wasn’t approved by the agency.

▪ Said training was offered in Sumner County on April 20-14, April 27 and May 1, 2015, when it wasn’t.

He pleaded guilty in August. In addition to serving probation, Vaughn will also have to pay $56,400 – the amount the company was wrongfully paid – in restitution.

Vaughn worked for the Wichita Police Department for 28 years. He retired in March 2015.

This story was originally published November 16, 2016 at 5:26 PM with the headline "Retired Wichita officer gets probation for embezzling, fraud."