January 2018 – Page 30 – Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!

Defendant pleads guilty in scam targeting homeowners facing foreclosure

A Missouri man pleaded guilty Monday to charges he and his accomplices swindled homeowners facing foreclosure with false promises to help them save their homes, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.

Tyler Korn, 28, St. Ann, Mo., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kansas.

In his plea, he admitted he and co-defendants used the address of a UPS store in Overland Park, Kan., to form Reliant Home Financial Group, a company they operated out of the St. Louis metro area.

The indictment alleges the defendants took money from victims and fraudulently promised to:
• Lower their interest rates.
• Lower their monthly payments.
• Help them obtain loan modifications.

When victims received foreclosure notices, the defendants advised them not to worry about it.

Other defendants include:
Amjad Daoud, 33, Lutz, Fla., who is awaiting trial.
Ruby Price, 73, Bonner Springs, Kan., who is awaiting sentencing.

Korn will be scheduled for sentencing later. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on each count, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

Beall commended the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General, the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emilie Burdette and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble for their work on the case.

Slick areas possible on roads, weather service says

Motorists were warned this morning to be aware of slick spots on area roads.

According to the National Weather Service, the light snowfall resulted in some slick areas, which should disappear by late morning.

The temperature was 31 degrees at 8 a.m., and is expected to rise to a high near 38 later today, according to the weather service. A west northwest wind of 7 to 10 mph may gust as high as 18 mph.

Tonight, skies will be partly cloudy with a low of 25, and a west wind of 3 to 6 mph, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, it will be sunny with a high near 48, the weather service said. A light and variable wind will become west around 6 mph in the morning.

Wednesday night, the low will be around 33 with mostly clear skies, according to the weather service. There will be a south southwest wind of 5 to 8 mph.

Thursday, the high will reach 58 with sunny skies, the weather service said. A south southwest wind of 7 to 13 mph will gut as high as 26 mph.

Thursday night, the low will be about 41, according to the weather service.

Friday, the high will be near 56 with mostly sunny skies, the weather service said.

Friday night, there is a 30 percent chance of rain before 3 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., followed by a chance of snow after 4 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 33.

Saturday, the high will be near 48 with mostly sunny skies, the weather service said.

Saturday night, the low will be around 27 with mostly clear skies, according to the weather service.

Sunday, the high will be near 46 with sunny skies, the weather service said.

Sunday night, the low will be around 26, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be sunny with a high near 48, the weather service said.

Bonner Springs bank robbery suspect taken into custody

Authorities have released this photo of a suspect in a bank robbery in Bonner Springs.

Update: The bank robbery suspect was taken into custody at Harrah’s Casino on Monday night, and charges are expected to be filed in federal court, according to authorities.

A 5-foot-6 slender male suspect is being sought in a bank robbery at 10:24 a.m. Monday, Jan. 22, at the KCB Bank, 13010 Commercial Drive, Bonner Springs, Kansas. The location was near K-7 and Commercial Drive.

According to an FBI spokeswoman, the suspect gave the teller a demand note, then fled the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.

There was no weapon shown, and no injuries in this incident, according to the spokeswoman.

Authorities are circulating photos of the suspect, taken at the bank. The suspect is believed to be about 40 years old, and was wearing a blue cap, a blue sports pullover, blue jeans and white shoes, according to the FBI spokeswoman.

Sgt. Heather Brooks, a public information officer with the Bonner Springs police, said this case is a joint investigation of the FBI and Bonner Springs police.

She said the suspect had not been located as of about 6:45 p.m. Monday.

Sgt. Brooks said employees at the bank were distraught, as might be expected, but they handled the situation within their training and did a good job.

Anyone who sees the suspect may call 911, Sgt. Brooks said, but do not try to talk with him. Or anyone with information about him may call the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.