KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A trucker working for a Kansas freight brokerage was sentenced today to 15 months in federal prison for stealing a load of meat valued at more than $160,000, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Gegham Avetisyan, 37, Valley Village, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.

Avetisyan contracted with a trucking freight brokerage business in Olathe to deliver a load of meat to three locations in California. He faxed documents to the company in which he used the name Robert Ivanov. He picked up the meat at a packing plant in Omaha, but never delivered it.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal crash and have made an arrest.

Just before 1a.m. Saturday, police arrested 21-year-old Eric Lane Turner, Jr. in connection with a fatal July 5 crash, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.

On Saturday Turner was the passenger of a vehicle that was stopped by officers for a traffic violation.

Officers determined Turner had outstanding warrants.  Two of which were Sedgwick County Warrants.  Turner was charged by the Sedgwick County DA’s office in September for a fatal accident on July 5, in the 2600 block of East Mossman, according to Wheeler.

Turner was identified as the driver of a silver Pontiac G6 that struck two unoccupied parked vehicles.  A passenger in the Pontiac identified as Leon Turner, 21, Wichita, was critically injured and later died from his injuries.   Police have not released information on the relationship between the two men.

FINNEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities and officials with USD 457 are investigating an alleged school threat and have made an arrest.

Just after 1:30p.m. Monday, police were called to Kenneth Henderson Middle School, 2406 Flemming in Garden City, for report of a student making a threat to school students and staff, according to Sgt. Lana Urteaga.

During the investigation, police learned several students at the school had come forward to school administration stating they heard another student comment about, “shooting up the school.”

A 7^th grade student admitted to making the comments. USD 457 suspended the student and police will file a report with the Finney County Attorney requesting charges of criminal threat, according to Urteaga.

WICHITA— After a stop in Kansas City earlier this month, Ivanka Trump is scheduled for a trip to Wichita this week.

President Trump’s daughter and senior advisor will accompany Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for a roundtable on workforce development, according to a media release from the White House.

The trip will include a tour of WSU Tech and Textron Aviation where a group of Wichita-based aviation companies will sign the Pledge to America’s Workers.

The pledge is an initiative that boasts pledges from over 360 companies who have so far committed to over 14 million new or enhanced career and job training opportunities for American workers, according to the release.

Sheree Utash, President of WSU Tech is a member of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board.

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Authorities are investigating the death of an inmate at the Sedgwick County Jail

Just after 11a.m. Sunday, an inmate became unresponsive, according to Keith Allen, Support Division Captain at the jail.

After immediate medical attention from onsite staff and responding EMS personnel, the 65 year old man was transported by EMS to a local hospital and was pronounced dead at 12:23 p.m.

The preliminary cause of death is unknown, however preliminary indications point to a medical condition. An autopsy is scheduled, according to Allen.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Investigation Division were notified.  The inmate’s identity is being withheld at the request of his family.  He was booked into the Sedgwick County Detention Facility on a misdemeanor five day commitment through the City of Wichita on October 17, 2019.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is planning to collect DNA samples from asylum-seekers and other migrants detained by immigration officials and will add the information to a massive FBI database used by law enforcement hunting for criminals, a Justice Department official said.

The Justice Department on Monday issued amended regulations that would mandate DNA collection for almost all migrants who cross between official entry points and are held even temporarily.

The official said the rules would not apply to legal permanent residents or anyone entering the U.S. legally, and children under 14 are exempt, but it’s unclear whether asylum-seekers who come through official crossings will be exempt.

The official spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity before the regulations were published.

Homeland Security officials gave a broad outline of the plan to expand DNA collection at the border two weeks ago, but it was unclear then whether asylum-seekers would be included or when it would begin.

The new policy would allow the government to amass a trove of biometric data on hundreds of thousands of migrants, raising major privacy concerns and questions about whether such data should be compelled even when a person is not suspected of a crime other than crossing the border illegally. Civil rights groups already have expressed concerns that data could be misused, and the new policy is likely to lead to legal action.

Justice officials hope to have a pilot program in place shortly after the 20-day comment period ends and expand from there, the official said. The new regulations are effective Tuesday.

Trump administration officials say they hope to solve more crimes committed by immigrants through the increased collection of DNA from a group that can often slip through the cracks. The Justice official also said it would be a deterrent — the latest step aimed at discouraging migrants from trying to enter the United States between official crossings by adding hurdles to the immigration process.

Currently, officials collect DNA on a much more limited basis — when a migrant is prosecuted in federal court for a criminal offense. That includes illegal crossing, a charge that has affected mostly single adults. Those accompanied by children generally aren’t prosecuted because children can’t be detained.

President Donald Trump and others in his administration often single out crimes committed by immigrants as a reason for stricter border control. But multiple studies have found that people in the United States illegally are less likely to commit crime than U.S. citizens, and legal immigrants are even less likely to do so.

For example, a study last year in the journal Criminology found that from 1990 through 2014, states with bigger shares of migrants have lower crime rates.

Immigrant rights advocates were immediately critical following initial disclosure of the DNA collection plan two weeks ago.

“That could really change the purpose of DNA collection from one of criminal investigation to population surveillance,” American Civil Liberties Union attorney Vera Eidleman said then.

Curbing immigration is Trump’s signature issue, but his administration has struggled in dealing with the surge of people trying to enter the United States, mostly Central American families fleeing poverty and violence.

Authorities made more than 810,000 arrests at the border during the budget year that just ended in September, a high not seen for more than 10 years. Officials say numbers have since fallen following crackdowns, changes in asylum regulations and agreements with Central American countries, but they remain higher than in previous years.

DNA profile collection is allowed under a law expanded in 2009 to require that any adult arrested for a federal crime provide a DNA sample. At least 23 states require DNA testing, but some occur after a suspect is convicted of a crime.

The FBI database, known as the Combined DNA Index System, has nearly 14 million convicted offender profiles, plus 3.6 million arrestee profiles, and 966,782 forensic profiles as of August 2019. The profiles in the database do not contain names or other personal identifiers to protect privacy; only an agency identifier, specimen identification number and DNA lab associated with the analysis. That way, when people aren’t a match, their identification isn’t exposed.

The only way to get a profile out of the system is to request through an attorney that it be removed.

Federal and state investigators use the system to match DNA in crimes they are trying to solve. As of August 2019, the database produced about 480,000 hits, or matches with law enforcement seeking crime scene data, and assisted in more than 469,000 investigations.

Justice Department officials are striking a line in the regulations that gave the secretary of Homeland Security discretion to opt out of collecting DNA from immigrants because of resource limitations or operational hurdles.

Justice and Homeland Security officials are still working out details, but cheek swab kits would be provided by the FBI, the official said. The FBI will help train border officials on how to get a sample, which shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.

Customs and Border Protection already collects fingerprints on everyone over 14 in its custody.

The new regulations will apply to adults who cross the border illegally and are briefly detained by Customs and Border Protection, or for a longer period by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Those who come to official crossings and are considered inadmissible and not further detained will be exempt. Other exceptions are being worked out, the official said.

More than 51,000 detainees are in ICE custody. Border Patrol custody fluctuates its facilities only hold migrants until they are processed and either released or sent to ICE custody. At the height, more than 19,000 people were held. Recently it was down to fewer than 4,000.

The Justice Department charged the highest number of immigration-related offenses last year since the office began keeping the records: 25,426 with felony illegal re-entry and 80,866 with misdemeanor improper entry into the country.

WICHITA– A computer programmer pleaded guilty Monday to threatening cyberattacks against two web sites that posted criticism of Wichita lawyer Brad Pistotnik, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

David Dorsett, 37, Wichita, pleaded guilty to two counts of making extortionate threats via the internet. In his plea, Dorsett admitted he contacted Pistotnik in September 2014 offering reputation management services.

Pistotnik met with Dorsett and showed him postings on the internet that Pistotnik wanted removed, including a Kansas Supreme Court disciplinary opinion for Pistotnik and a negative consumer review.

Email communications between Dorsett and Pistotnik showed Postnik saying, “Any luck removing that bad website I showed you?” and “tell me how we get rid of it.”

Dorsett sent a barrage of emails to two web sites, leagle.com and RipoffReport.com demanding they remove information critical of Pistotnik.

The emails read in part, “If you don’t remove it we will begin targeting your advertisers and explain that this will stop happening to them once they pull their ads…” Dorsett billed Pistotnik for sending the threats and Pistotnik paid him by check the same day.

Co-defendant Pistotnik was sentenced last week to pay a $375,000 fine and $55,200 in restitution.

Dorsett’s sentencing is set for Jan. 6. He faces a penalty of up to two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges after a traffic stop.

Just after 2a.m. Sunday, a deputy pulled over a  Nissan Altima after he observed the vehicle make an improper turn off of Interstate 70 at Ninth Street, according to sheriff Roger Soldan.

While the deputy was ticketing the driver identified as Billy Daniel Boone, 41, of Cuero, Texas, Salina Police K-9 Karma hit on the car.

Boone refused to exit the car and a window had to be broken to get him out, according to the sheriff.

Once Boone was out and the car was searched, authorities found a little more than a pound of marijuana and two handguns.

Boone was arrested on requested charges that include Interference with a law enforcement officer, Felony possession of marijuanaand Felony possession of drug paraphernalia.

DOUGLAS COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal stabbing and have identified the victim.

Just after 5p.m. Sunday, police responded to report of a stabbing in the 1900 block of Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, according to a media release.

A victim identified as John M. Minoglio, 40, Lawrence, died at the scene. The stabbing was the result of a physical altercation between Minoglio and another man who was detained at the scene, according to police.

After an interview with police, the man was released pending completion of the investigation, according to the release.

Police released no additional details Monday morning.

————

DOUGLAS COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal stabbing.

Just after 5p.m. Sunday, police responded to report of a stabbing in the 1900 block of Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, according to a media release.

Officers located one adult male victim in the grass and immediately began performing life-saving techniques until emergency medical personnel arrived on scene to continue treatment on the victim. Despite first responders’ life-saving efforts, the victim could not be revived.

The circumstances that led to the stabbing are unknown, The other individual involved in the stabbing was located and was being interviewed by officers.

Police are not looking for any other suspects and have released no additional details including the victim’s name.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged sexual assault in Manhattan and have made an arrest.

Just before 4a.m. Sunday, Kansas State University Police received a report of an active situation on the west side of campus along the Denison corridor, according to a media release.
Upon arrival to the area, officers contacted and transported a victim to the local hospital. While officers were still in the area, a suspect identified as 23-year-old Jason C. Seifert returned to the scene and was arrested by K-State Police officers. Neither Seifert or the victim have any relation to the university, according to the release.

Seifert is being held on a bond of $100,000 on requested charges that include “Rape; Sexual intercourse without consent and use of force, Aggravated kidnapping, Aggravated battery; Knowingly use weapon cause, great body harm/disfigure/death, according to the Riley County Police Department booking report.

Police have released no additional details.