Former Kansas foster care leader pleads guilty to wire fraud, admits personal charges

By: Sherman Smith

Outlets: Kansas Reflector

Published: February 19, 2026

Words: 687

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 5 days ago

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TOPEKA — Former Saint Francis Ministries CEO Robert Smith admitted in federal court Thursday that he used the organization’s credit card for personal expenses and authorized payments for a co-defendant’s fraudulent invoices.

Then he pleaded guilty to a single charge of wire fraud for a $6,909.73 credit card payment.

Smith led the foster care organization from 2014 to 2020, where the Episcopal priest was known as Father Bobby. Federal authorities gathered evidence that Smith and …

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