Month: January 2017

Georgia man charged with cyber crime that cost Sedgwick County a half-million dollars

A Georgia man has been arrested on federal charges he carried out an e-mail spoofing scheme that cost Sedgwick County $566,000, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.

George S. James, 48, Brookhaven, Ga., is charged with one count of wire fraud. An FBI agent’s affidavit alleges that investigators followed an electronic trail that led them to James after Sedgwick reported the theft of funds that were intended to pay Cornejo and Sons, LLC, for work done on a road project.

The criminal complaint alleges that on Sept 23, 2016, Sedgwick County received an e-mail purporting to be from the CEO of the Cornejo company and with a form attached requesting payments be made electronically to a new account at a Wells Fargo Bank in Georgia.

Payment was made on Oct. 7, 2016, after which time the county learned that Cornejo did not receive the payment and did not send the e-mail to the county, according to the criminal complaint. James fraudulently received the payment through an account he held at a Georgia bank in the name of Rapid Repairs and Consultants, authorities said.

The criminal complaint alleges the scheme involved providing false information over the Internet to the county’s Automated Clearing House. The fraudulent email caused the county to change the information it kept on file for the Cornejo company’s financial institution and bank account, according to authorities. The email request was sent from [email protected] to [email protected].

If convicted, James faces a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The FBI, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and the Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.

Cooler temperatures will move in tomorrow

National Weather Service graphic

Showers will be possible in some areas today ahead of a cold front, according to the National Weather Service.

In Wyandotte County, the chance of rain is 20 percent after 4 p.m., the weather service said.

After a high of 58 today, the weather will change, with Wednesday’s high near 38, according to the weather service. An east southeast wind of 9 to 17 mph will become south in the afternoon today. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph.

The cooler temperatures will bring a possibility of snow in parts of the region; however, Wyandotte County’s forecast calls only for rain at this time, the weather service said. There is a slight, 20 percent, chance of rain before midnight tonight, with a low of 34 tonight. Winds will be 10 to 13 from the south southwest, changing to west after midnight.

Wednesday, it will be cloudy with a high of 38 and a west northwest wind of 13 to 16 mph, gusting to 24 mph, according to the weather service.

Wednesday night, it will be mostly cloudy with a low of 24, the weather service said. A northwest wind will be 9 to 13 mph, gusting as high as 24 mph.

Thursday, it will be mostly sunny with a high of 37 and a west northwest wind of 8 to 11 mph, according to the weather service.

Thursday night, the low will be around 22, the weather service said.

Friday, it will be sunny with a high near 36, according to the weather service.

Friday night, expect mostly clear skies with a low of 25, the weather service said.

Saturday it will be mostly cloudy with a high of 41, according to the weather service.

New name for KU Hospital system


The University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., has announced a change today to The University of Kansas Health System.

The new name reflects new partnerships and growth on campus and in the region, according to the announcement.

The name reflects a consolidation with the physicians and clinics of the University of Kansas Physicians, the spokesman said in a news release. It also describes inpatient and ambulatory services the hospital has offered the past few years, as well as partner relationships with Hays Medical Center, Stormont Vail in Topeka, North Kansas City Hospital, Cornerstones of Care at Marillac and KVC Behavioral Health.

“We are much more than the facilities off 39th in Kansas City, Kansas. We reach across the state line and throughout Kansas. All of this is part of our mission to give people throughout Kansas and the Midwest access to advanced medicine,” said Bob Page, president and chief executive officer of The University of Kansas Health System, in the news release.

A new logo includes an image of a test tube symbolizing discovery, flames representing the traditional physician symbol, DNA and a three-tiered mission of academic medicine, including clinical care, research and education. A white arrow symbolizes growth and progress, according to the announcement.

The spokesman said the University of Kansas Hospital will remain the name of the primary hospital building itself at 39th and Cambridge Street in Kansas City, Kan.

The University of Kansas Health System works closely with the University of Kansas Medical Center, but it remains separate. KU Medical Center is the educational and research institution which is part of the University of Kansas.