KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating Kansas City’s mayor pro tem and her husband, who is the director of public works.
A city leader confirmed Wednesday what five other individual sources told FOX4. They said investigators have interviewed current and former city employees about the use of taxpayer dollars by Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw and Michael Shaw.
KDHE calls $798,000 pregnancy aid fraud report ‘incomplete’
FOX4 has spoken to a number of sources with knowledge of the investigation. We first received a tip about this eight months ago and have since spoken with five people who sat for interviews with the FBI.
Each one said the FBI asked questions about the mayor pro tem and public works director.
On Wednesday, City Manager Mario Vasquez confirms with FOX4 that he was aware of interviews conducted by the FBI dating back to January of 2025.
The mayor pro tem told FOX4 that she is unaware of this investigation.
“Do you have any response to people saying that you are using this office and his position for professional and personal gain?” FOX4 asked.
“Yeah, that’s not true,” Parks-Shaw said.
The mayor pro tem – who has already announced she’s running for mayor – and her husband, the current public works director, are under the microscope.
All of the people we spoke with are current or former city employees who fear retaliation that could affect their careers.
They told us their interviews with the FBI all centered on the same line of questioning: did the mayor pro tem and her husband use their combined authority for their own financial and professional gain?
The FBI would not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation, which is their standard practice.
But FOX4 followed the trail of investigators, reviewing communication between agents and sources. We reviewed awarded contracts and campaign donations.
“It is very serious,” said Greg Watt, a former state prosecutor and current federal defense attorney. “The federal government certainly has jurisdiction to oversee abuses of power, abuses of positions anytime you have an elected official or an appointed officials using their position in order to gain something of value.
“I suspect there is more than enough evidence in order for them to file charges.”
He said investigations like this can take time.
Documents provided to the FBI by one of our sources who was interviewed shows contracts awarded to people who have made campaign donations to Parks-Shaw.
FOX4 has also viewed communications between people inside of city hall and the city’s legal department.
The communications informed city leaders that Michael Shaw had sent emails from his personal account soliciting contributions to his wife’s mayoral campaign. He sent these emails to people who were seeking permits from the city – permits that had not yet been approved.
“I don’t have any direct knowledge of that,” Vasquez said. “If that is the case, that’s definitely inappropriate.”
On Wednesday, City Manager Vasquez also confirmed that 6 months ago, the city received a grand jury subpoena for records of contracts and vendors.
“I’m in a difficult spot, given the relationship with the director and mayor pro tem,” he said.
Vasquez also said he feels a responsibility to address these allegations with the director of public works.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas also said he was unaware
“I am unaware as well – no comment. I would want to learn a lot more before I discuss anything, but that surprises me, and I hope to learn more very soon,” he said.
These are just some of the allegations brought up by the five sources who have sat for interviews with the FBI. They told FOX4 there’s more.
These are allegations raised by five sources who say they were interviewed by the FBI. No charges have been announced. As always, FOX4 will stay on top of the story.
