NEWARK, N.J. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - New Jersey), published as received.

NEWARK, N.J. – An Atlantic City public official was charged in connection with a scheme to solicit bribes from a cannabis business, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today.

Kashawn McKinley, 42, Director of Constituent Services in Atlantic City and a member of the Atlantic City School Board, was charged by complaint with honest services fraud and two counts of soliciting bribes. McKinley had his initial appearance today, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sharon A. King in federal court in Camden.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

McKinley solicited more than $20,000 in cash and marijuana in exchange for his official assistance to a cannabis business owner in connection with the opening of the business and resolving certain fees owed by the business owner to the City of Atlantic City. In one instance, McKinley received a bribe payment for his assistance in getting the cannabis business classified as a “micro” cannabis business instead of a standard cannabis business, which resulted in the business paying a $2,500 annual fee to renew its mercantile license instead of the $25,000 annual fee required for standard cannabis businesses. 

In addition to receiving cash and cannabis, McKinley in one instance expected payment in the form of services. Specifically, in October 2025, McKinley directed the business owner to assault another person in exchange for McKinley’s official assistance in resolving the fee disputes between the business owner and Atlantic City. When McKinley was later shown what appeared to be a photograph of the injured victim, McKinley expressed pleasure and assured the cannabis business owner that when it came to the fee disputes with Atlantic City: “you don’t have to worry about nothing.”  

The honest services fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The bribery charges each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. 

U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Atlantic City Resident Agency and the FBI’s Atlantic City Public Corruption Task Force, both under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, with the investigation leading to the charges. 

The government is represented by Francesca Liquori, Senior Trial Counsel for the Special Prosecutions Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Assistant United States Attorney Jena Tiernan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Defense counsel: James Maguire, Esq., AFPD