Atlantic City Cannabis Official Charged in Bribery Scheme
Atlantic City's top official overseeing the legal marijuana industry, Kashawn McKinley, has been federally charged with honest services fraud and soliciting bribes. Prosecutors allege he accepted over $20,000 in cash and marijuana from a dispensary owner in exchange for expediting…
Philadelphia, PA, September 25, 2026 —
Kashawn McKinley, the official in Atlantic City responsible for overseeing the legal marijuana industry, faces federal charges related to honest services fraud and soliciting bribes. The charges were announced by prosecutors detailing an alleged scheme involving a dispensary owner.
According to the allegations, McKinley accepted more than $20,000 in cash and marijuana. Prosecutors state these payments were made by a dispensary owner who was seeking to expedite the approval of their license. Additionally, the dispensary owner allegedly sought to have city fees reduced, with McKinley accused of facilitating these requests in exchange for the alleged illicit payments.
The specific timeline of the alleged events and the exact date of the charges were not provided in the available information. The name of the dispensary owner involved in the alleged transaction was also not disclosed. Further details regarding the ongoing investigation and potential next steps in the legal process have not yet been made public.
The legal marijuana industry in Atlantic City has been undergoing development, with officials like McKinley playing key roles in its regulation and licensing. These federal charges introduce a significant development for the city’s cannabis sector and its regulatory oversight. The charges specify honest services fraud, which pertains to violations of the public’s trust when an official acts in their own self-interest rather than for the public good. The solicitation of bribes indicates an alleged illegal acceptance of money or favors in exchange for official actions.
Further information regarding the investigation, including the precise nature of the alleged bribes and the outcome of any plea or trial proceedings, is expected to emerge as the case progresses through the federal court system. The monetary amount alleged to have been accepted, over $20,000 in cash and marijuana, is a central figure in the prosecution’s case.
Story summarized from the original created by Henry Savage on www.inquirer.com, see more information here.
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