Former Wichita Policeman Pleads Guilty To Protecting Illegal Poker Games

WICHITA, KAN. – A former Wichita police officer pleaded guilty Tuesday to looking the other way for years while co-defendants made a business of operating illegal private poker games, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Michael Zajkowski, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of concealing a felony. In his plea, he admitted he knew about illegal private poker games in Wichita and he did not report it to authorities. On Feb. 12, 2014, one of the co-defendants suspected an undercover Wichita police officer had come to a poker game posing as a gambler. At the co-defendant’s request, Zajkowski attempted to find out whether there was a police investigation and provided information to the co-defendant.

Sentencing is set for Aug. 2. Both parties have agreed to recommend Zajkowski serve a year on federal probation. McAllister commended the FBI, the Wichita Police Department, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith for their work on the case.