U.S. Attorney and FBI Kick Off Public Corruption Hotline

TOPEKA, KS—U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom and Special Agent in Charge Michael Kaste of the FBI’s Kansas City Office announced today they are asking for the public’s help in combating fraud and public corruption in Kansas.

The FBI has set up a toll-free public corruption hotline at 1-855-527-2847 (1-855-KCPCTIP) for reports from Topeka, Wichita, and throughout the state of Kansas. Reports also can be e-mailed to KCPCTIP@ic.fbi.gov.

“Crooked public officials undermine the public’s trust in our government,” Grissom said. “They dishonor the many honest and hard-working men and women who serve the public at all levels of government. With the FBI’s hotline, everyone can have a hand in fighting public corruption.”

Kaste said that the FBI already has received many tips with valuable information from the hotline and the e-mail address, which were rolled out first in Kansas City in November.

“In cases of public corruption, the public’s help makes a significant difference, and the establishment of this hotline supplies the necessary tools to provide that help,” said SAC Kaste.

Kaste said the FBI’s top criminal priority is to address public corruption at all levels of government. Many times, these crimes are difficult to detect because of their secretive nature, and they are even more difficult to prove without the assistance of concerned citizens.

Accepting a bribe for awarding a contract, taking a kickback for providing a permit or inaction by law enforcement for payment are examples of public corruption. A violation of federal law, public corruption includes bribes, embezzlement, racketeering, kickbacks, and money laundering, as well as wire, mail, bank, and tax fraud—all of which occur at the public’s expense.

The hotline number will also be featured on Lamar billboards within the Topeka area. Details regarding the various types of public corruption investigated by the FBI can be found online at: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/corruption