TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The owner of a contracting company has pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme that defrauded the government by receiving contracts intended for veterans and minorities.

Forty-three-year-old Matthew McPherson, owner of Topeka-based McPherson Contractors, pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and major program fraud.

Federal prosecutors say the construction firms involved received $346 million for contracts for small businesses owned by for veterans and minorities.

McPherson, of Olathe, is not a veteran or a minority and his construction company was not entitled to compete for those contracts, in what is known as “Rent-A-Vet” or “Rent-a-Minority” schemes.

The co-conspirators are accused of claiming that black, disabled veterans managed construction companies in order to receive the contracts.

The federal government has filed a lawsuit against McPherson and his co-conspirators over the fraud scheme.

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KANSAS CITY (AP) — Federal prosecutors are alleging that two Topeka businessmen and a Kansas City-area man operated a $352 million business fraud scheme that involved using minority or disabled military veterans to obtain federal business contracts.

In a civil action filed in Kansas City, federal prosecutors allege Matt Torgeson, president of Torgeson Electric Co., and Matthew McPherson, president of McPherson Contractors, both based in Topeka, worked with Michael Patrick Dingle to create what are sometimes called “Rent-A-Vet” companies. They allege they received more than 60 fraudulent small-business government contracts beginning in 2009.

According to court documents, the men set up businesses called Zieson Construction and Simcon Corp. to obtain contracts meant for minority or disabled veterans and then used the money for themselves or their businesses, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported .

Under federal law, minority or disabled veterans are to manage the daily operations of businesses that receive “set aside” contracts for small minority-run businesses. Torgeson, McPherson and Dingle are not disabled or minorities and prosecutors say Dingle managed two of the fraudulent businesses.

A third front company, Onsite, was formed after Zieson was growing too large to qualify for the small business contracts, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors are asking that properties and bank accounts owned the co-conspirators be forfeited because they were proceeds of the alleged fraud.

In the court filing, federal prosecutors contend millions of federal dollars were paid to Zieson and Simcon and then funneled to Torgeson, McPherson and Dingle. Prosecutors allege that between April 2010 and January 2018, the government paid about more than $300 million in “illicit funds” to Zieson, Simcon and Onsite, and others associated with the alleged fraud.

The lawsuit also names veterans or minority individuals whose names were used to set up the front company and who signed paperwork contending they were managing the companies. No criminal charges have been filed.

In an emailed statement, McPherson Contractors said it was working with authorities on the investigation. Matt Torgeson told KSNT-TV that his company also is cooperating with the investigation. A phone number listed for Dingle went unanswered.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man is suing the city of Topeka after he was seriously injured when he fell through a gap in a highway bridge in the same place where four people have plunged through since 2001, including a 14-year-old boy who died.

The lawsuit filed Monday seeks nearly $2.78 million for Trong Do Turner, who was injured in July 2017 when he fell through a gap between the northbound and southbound lanes of the Kansas Avenue Bridge where he mistakenly believed there was a sidewalk.

Signs at both ends of the bridge warn about no foot traffic access but the lawsuit says Turner entered the bridge from a sidewalk where no warning was posted.

City spokeswoman Molly Hadfield says the city doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a person who suffered critical injuries after falling 25 feet was likely trying to jump a gap between two bridges in Kansas.

The man was transported to a Topeka hospital Sunday evening with injuries that are considered life-threatening. He’s believed to be between 17 and 20 years old.

Topeka Police Lt. Aaron Jones says the victim likely thought he could land safely or that there was something to catch him.

Jones says investigators don’t believe the victim intentionally jumped off the bridge, but that he may have been trying to jump between northbound and southbound bridges along Kansas Avenue.

Police say witnesses reported calling 911 after watching the fall. Jones says witnesses described him as “happy go lucky.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The new top immigration official signaled Tuesday his agency is looking to step up deportations of families who are in the United States illegally, actions that would likely run into logistical hurdles and face strong public opposition.

Mark Morgan, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the agency would continue to prioritize deportations of people who have criminal histories, but that no one should be exempt from enforcement.

“That will include families,” he said at a roundtable with ICE officials and reporters.

The comments by Morgan, who took over the position last week, show a willingness to embrace a part of President Donald Trump’s tough immigration agenda that past officials had balked at. Morgan is a former head of Border Patrol who was fired by Trump early in his presidency, but then returned to his good graces after regularly defending Trump’s immigration policies on Fox News.

ICE is the agency tasked with enforcing immigration law in the interior of the U.S. Part of its mission is to arrest immigrants in the U.S. illegally.

More than 200,000 migrant families have been released into the country since Dec. 1. A massive backlog of immigration cases means they will be in the country for years before their cases are decided. Morgan said generally people who have been ordered removed by a judge stop showing up for court dates, meaning ICE officers must search for them in order to deport them.

It’s a difficult effort. There is little room to detain families while they wait for travel papers to be deported — federal family detention centers can house up to about 2,500 people, but are already full. Children cannot be detained longer than 20 days, which means ICE officers would need to have much of the paperwork completed before they took a family into custody or risk having to release them and lose them into the interior again.

ICE resources, much like other border agencies, are strained. They are detaining about 52,000 single adults but are funded for only 45,000. Minors who cross the border alone are turned over to Health and Human Services, which manages their care.

And the treatment of children and families in government custody has been a continued political flashpoint , after the Trump administration separated children from parents at the southern border last year. The move prompted outrage and criticism that the U.S. was abandoning its humanitarian role and harming children.

Morgan on Tuesday called on Congress to OK the $4.5 billion in supplemental funding requested by Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan to fund bed space and humanitarian aid for strapped border facilities. He said a lack of law change by Congress has exacerbated the border problems.

On Monday, Congress sent a $19.1 billion disaster aid bill to Trump for his signature, but lawmakers failed to agree on Trump’s $4 billion-plus request to care for thousands of mostly Central American migrants held at the border, so that money was not included.

“Congress has absolutely failed in this area,” Morgan said. “It’s unsustainable and nobody should want this.”

Immigration has deadlocked the Democrats and Republicans for decades, but Trump’s hardline efforts and border wall push have only exacerbated the divide, especially after the Trump administration separated more than 2,500 children from their parents at the border as part of its zero tolerance policy to prosecute anyone caught crossing the border illegally.

But in recent months, more than 100,000 people have been crossing the border, highs not seen for more than a decade, when the people coming were mostly men from Mexico who were easily returned over the border.

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman Marshall, M.D. ordered House Democrats to allow members to vote and move forward on the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. Today, yet again, Democrats denied the request for a vote. This marks the 51st time that House Republicans have requested a vote on legislation that protects babies who survive failed abortions, according to a media release from Marshall’s office.

Last night I called for a vote on the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Act. For the 51st time, Democrats denied our request. They will not allow us to vote on a bill that would require physicians to give medical care to babies that survive a botched abortion. It’s shameful. pic.twitter.com/fkqpui9sGn

— Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) June 4, 2019

“House Democrats consistently look the other way when sound policy is put in front of them, but what I cannot understand is how they’re able to turn a blind eye to newborn infants, out of the womb, who are fighting for their lives and need medical care.” Dr. Marshall said. “I can’t believe that I’ve had to fight harder for the born and unborn in this Chamber than in my 30 years as a practicing obstetrician. What the Speaker is doing here is shameful.”

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an injury accident that sent one to the hospital.

Just before 10p.m. Monday, first responders were dispatched to an injury accident in the 11800 block U.S. 24 Highway in rural Shawnee County, according to Sergeant Robert Child.

Crews had to extricate the driver identified as Catherine E. Hefner, 50, Topeka. She was transported to local area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, according to Lt. Todd Stallbaumer.

The sheriff’s department released no additional details late Tuesday morning.

 

GEARY COUNTY  — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after an I-70 traffic stop in Geary County.

Just before 11:30p.m.Monday, deputies arrested 27-year-old Alyssa Hedman, Manhattan, on suspicion of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possesson of Drug Paraphernalia and Obstruction, according to a media release.

They also arrested 62-year-old John Roberts, Hutchinson, on suspicion of Possession of Methamphetamine With the Intent to Distribute, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana, No Drug Tax Stamp, a Pottawatomie County District Court warrant alleging worthless checks and a Riley County District Court warrant alleging worthless checks.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he expects to begin hitting Mexico with tariffs next week in a long-running dispute over illegal immigration, while Mexican officials predicted an agreement to avoid the penalties would be reached during upcoming negotiations.

Trump said Tuesday that the parties would try to work something out, but continued to dangle the threat of tariffs to force Mexico’s hand.

“We’re going to see if we can do something. But I think it’s more likely that the tariffs go on,” he said from London, where Trump is on the second day of a state visit to Britain. The president commented during a news conference with outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May.

But Mexico said earlier Tuesday that an agreement was likely to avoid the threatened 5% tariff on Mexican imports , effective Monday.

“By what we have seen so far, we will be able to reach an agreement,” Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said during a news conference at Mexico’s Embassy in Washington. “That is why I think the imposition of tariffs can be avoided.”

Ebrard said his team will be prepared for a non-agreement scenario despite his optimism that a deal will be reached.

Ebrard arrived in Washington over the weekend to meet Wednesday with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Mexico calls the potential tariff hurtful to the economies of both countries and useless to slow the northbound flow of Central American migrants.

Trump claimed that “millions of people” are entering the U.S. through Mexico and criticized congressional Democrats for not passing new laws.

“But even beyond the laws, Mexico should not allow millions of people to try and enter our country. They could stop it very quickly. And I think they will. And if they won’t, we’re going to put tariffs on,” Trump said.

He added that “I think that Mexico will step up and do what should have been done.”

It is unclear what more Mexico can do — and what will be enough — to satisfy Trump because the United States has not presented concrete benchmarks to assess whether the U.S. ally is sufficiently stemming the migrant flow from Central America.

“As a sign of good faith, Mexico should immediately stop the flow of people and drugs through their country and to our Southern Border. They can do it if they want!” Trump tweeted Monday from London.

Trump’s Republican allies also warn that tariffs on Mexican imports will hit U.S. consumers, harm the economy and jeopardize the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement trade pact that the White House wants Congress to approve this year.

“We need to put our heads together and try to come up with a solution,” Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn warned Monday.

A diplomatic counteroffensive launched by Mexico this week includes a Tuesday meeting of trade negotiator Jesus Seade with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

The tariff threat comes just as the administration has been pushing for passage of the USMCA, which would update the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Mexico and Canada already started the process of ratifying the deal through their own legislatures.

On Monday, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross met with Mexican Economy Minister Graciela Marquez and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue hosted his Mexican counterpart Victor Villalobos.

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SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an attempted robbery and searching for suspects.

Just before 4a.m. Tuesday, police were called to the 1300 Block of SW Caledon in Topeka for a report of an attempted robbery, according to Lt. Aaron Jones. Officers discovered a 36-year-old man suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound.  The man was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau is following up on leads.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is encouraged to contact the Topeka Police.

CAMERON, Mo. (AP) — A 33-year-old man is facing charges after he led Missouri officers on a chase that began when he allegedly hit a Cameron police officer with a vehicle while trying to get away.

DeKalb County prosecutors on Monday charged Michael Clyde-David Moses, of Kansas City, with felony first-degree assault, felony armed criminal action, and felony resisting arrest.

Police say officers called to a burglary in progress in Cameron on Saturday saw a suspect run out of the store and into a vehicle.

Investigators say Moses hit two parked cars and Cameron police Sgt. Eric Belshe, who fired at the suspect before Moses fled.

Officers from several agencies pursued the suspect across Highway 36 through St. Joseph before the chase ended in Wathena, Kansas.  Moses is being held in the Doniphan County jail without bond.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas commission voted Monday to give state employees a break on health insurance rates after they endured years of significant increases.

Packed house for Kansas State Employees Health Care Commission. #ksleg #ksins #ksgov #ksgop #kansas #insurance pic.twitter.com/qhdrnmNzwJ

— Vicki Schmidt (@VickiSchmidtKS) June 3, 2019

The Kansas Employees Health Care Commission voted unanimously to either reduce state employees’ rates 6% for plans that include spouses, families or retirees, while keeping other plan rates flat. At the same time, the state will increase its contribution to the state insurance fund by 4.5%, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported.

Under former Gov. Sam Brownback, the state reduced contributions by 8.5 % in 2015 to secure cash to balance the state budget, then imposed rate increases from 2016-18 of 36.7 %, 30.4 % and 31.7 % for employees with spouses or families participating in the state insurance plan.

“There was no way an employee could have begun to plan for those types of increases,” said Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, a Republican who was elected in November.

As the state shifted the burden of supporting the health care fund to employees, fund reserves dropped from $195 million in 2014 to a low of $24 million in 2017. After Monday’s decision, the reserve balance is expected to increase from $48 million to $52 million next year.

“You can argue pretty conclusively the reason the balance slipped so low is the state lowered its contributions substantially at a time when expenses were going up,” said Duane Goossen, the interim secretary of administration under Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat.

Cheryl Buxton, president of the Employee Advisory Committee, which includes current and former employees who are active in the health insurance plan, said employees will be pleased with the combination of decreased health insurance costs and a pay increase the Legislature included in the new state budget.

Commissioners expressed interest in passing along more savings but long-term forecasts suggested modest increases would be needed to maintain a targeted reserve balance as health costs rise.

“I would not support getting wild and crazy with minus 30% increases,” Schmidt said. “We have to be responsible, I understand. We’re adulting now.”

The committee also approved savings for employees using a high-deductible plan. After the deductible is met, employees will pay 10% of health costs instead of the current 20% rate. And employees who leave state jobs will be allowed to keep their health insurance through the end of the month. During Brownback’s administration, workers lost their insurance the day their employment ended.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration is considering changes — and possible reductions — in health insurance premiums for state employees after three years of steep price increases.

State employees faced insurance premium increases of more than 30 percent for three consecutive years during Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration. That came while millions of dollars in state payments were diverted from the health insurance fund to help balance the state budget.

Kelly said she was troubled by mismanagement of the state employee health insurance plan during the last administration. She says her administration has been reviewing options to help give state employees some relief.

The Kansas State Employees Health Care Commission is meeting Monday to consider reductions or no increase for employees’ 2020 health insurance rates.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and have three teen suspects in custody.

Just after 3a.m. Monday, police responded to report of an armed robbery at a convenience store in the 3700 Block of North Maize Road in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

A 20-year-old female store employee called 911 and told police armed suspects entered the business and demanded money. An officer with Maize Police observed the three suspects leave the business in a black Ford F150, according to Davidson. The officer attempted to stop the pickup but the driver refused to stop.

During a pursuit, the driver crashed the pickup on West Street under Kellogg and the three suspects, two 17-year-old and a 16-year-old in the vehicle fled on foot and were later arrested without incident.

They were transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries and later booked in the Sedgwick County Juvenile Detention Center on requested charges that include felony evade and elude, aggravated robbery and kidnapping.

Investigators also learned the Ford F150 and gun were stolen, according to Davidson.

DONIPHAN COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Monday in Doniphan County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Ford F150 driven by Jay C. Jewell, 54, Atchison,was southbound on Friendship Road.

The pickup left the roadway to the west and the driver over corrected. It left roadway to the east, struck a culvert and rolled.

Jewell was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Harman-Rohde Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

GREAT BEND – A Kansas man was sentenced Monday to 21 years in prison after pleading guilty to second degree intentional murder, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Chaz Stephens, 26, Hoisington, pleaded guilty in April to second degree intentional murder in connection with the March 2018 death of his girlfriend’s two-year-old daughter in Hoisington.

Authoriteis found the body of Iviona Lewis northwest of Hoisington.

The child was last seen four days earlier on a Sunday at her home in Hosington. She was not reported missing until Tuesday afternoon.

Hoisington Police Chief Kenton Doze said the girl’s mother was visiting her brother in Great Bend, and the delay in reporting Iviona’s disappearance was caused by confusion over who was supposed to be caring for her.

The case was investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Hoisington Police Department and the Barton County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from several other law enforcement agencies. Assistant Attorney General Adam Zentner and former Assistant Attorney General Lyndzie Carter of Schmidt’s office prosecuted the case.