Atlantic City official faces federal bribery charges

Kashawn McKinley, the Director of Constituent Services for Atlantic City and a member of the Atlantic City School Board, appeared in federal court in Camden facing charges of honest services fraud and two counts of soliciting bribes.

According to the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, McKinley allegedly solicited more than $20,000 in cash and marijuana in exchange for official assistance to a cannabis business owner. This assistance reportedly involved helping the business open and resolving municipal fees. In one instance, McKinley allegedly helped a business be classified as a ‘micro’ cannabis business, which reduced its annual mercantile license fee from $25,000 to $2,500.

Court charges further allege that in one instance, McKinley requested an assault on another person as a form of bribe payment in lieu of cash or marijuana.