Home Kansas City Press Releases 2011 Former Secretary Indicted for Embezzling $285,000 from Masonic Organization
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Former Secretary Indicted for Embezzling $285,000 from Masonic Organization

U.S. Attorney’s Office March 02, 2011
  • Western District of Missouri (816) 426-3122

KANSAS CITY, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Prairie Village, Kansas, man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for embezzling nearly $285,000 from the York Rite Masonic Bodies.

Kirk McDaniel, Jr., 74, of Prairie Village, was charged in an 18-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo.

McDaniel was the secretary of the York Rite Masonic Bodies in Kansas City, Mo., from June 2000 through September 2005. The fraternal organization is comprised of Oriental Commandery #35 Knights Templar, Orient Chapter #102 Royal Arch Masons, and Shekinah Council #24 Cryptic Masons. While serving as secretary, McDaniel also took over certain duties of the treasurer, including maintaining the bank accounts of each of the York Rite Masonic Bodies, writing checks, and transferring funds as needed between the accounts.

Today’s indictment alleges that McDaniel stole approximately $284,675, of which he repaid the organization approximately $105,012.

According to the indictment, McDaniel transferred funds from the York Rite Masonic Bodies bank account into a bank account he opened at Missouri Bank and Trust and into three investment accounts he opened at Edward Jones. The names on the bank account and the investment accounts were similar to the names of the legitimate accounts, the indictment says, but the transfers were made without the knowledge or authorization of the organization. McDaniel allegedly used the funds he transferred into those accounts for his personal benefit and the benefit of others.

The fraud scheme also involved several actions taken by McDaniel to conceal his thefts, the indictment says.

McDaniel is charged with 16 counts of bank fraud related to a series of financial transactions that involved checks up to $105,000 that were drawn on the York Rite Masonic Bodies bank accounts and deposited into McDonald’s unauthorized accounts. McDonald is also charged with two counts of money laundering relating to financial transactions that involved funds obtained by fraud.

Phillips cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Parker Marshall. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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