© 2024 KMUW
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Former Wichita Police Officer Pleads Guilty In Gambling Probe

Sean Sandefur
/
KMUW/File photo

A former Wichita police officer pleaded guilty Wednesday for not reporting information about illegal poker games, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s office.

The release said Bruce Mackey of Goddard pleaded guilty to one count of misprision — or concealment — of a felony. Mackey, 46, admitted that while he was a police officer, he knew and did not report individuals who were conducting a gambling business, the release said.

Sentencing is set for Oct. 26. He faces a penalty of up to three years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

Investigators have been looking into an illegal gambling business with ties to public corruption in Wichita since November 2011, according to an FBI affidavit. Investigators learned of more than five different business establishments throughout Wichita and identified numerous individuals — including other law enforcement officers — involved with the illegal poker games.

According to Wednesday’s release, Mackey told organizers of a poker game in February 2014 that one of the gamblers was a Wichita police officer working undercover.

Mackey and another officer — who was later charged — allegedly used Police Department resources to determine the ownership of a vehicle driven by the person whom they suspected was an undercover investigator.

Tom Shine is the director of news and public affairs. Follow him on Twitter @thomaspshine. To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org.

Tom joined KMUW in 2017 after spending 37 years with The Wichita Eagle where he held a variety of reporting and editing roles. He also is host of The Range, KMUW’s weekly show about where we live and the people who live here. Tom is an adjunct instructor in the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University.