A Johnson County man who worked as an information technology administrator for a stainless steel fabrication company in Brown County is facing prison time. Josh J. Minkler, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana announced Wednesday that 34-year-old Benjamin Levi Cox, of Nineveh, pleaded guilty to one count of Wire Fraud and one count of Interception of Electronic Communications and sentenced to eight months in prison. In addition to his prison term, Cox was ordered to serve seven months of home confinement, two years of supervised release and ordered to pay $27,490 in restitution. He was also ordered to perform a further six months of unpaid community service.

Federal prosecutors say that Cox was formerly employed by Electric Metal Fab, Inc., a stainless steel fabrication company in Nashville. Cox worked as the company’s IT system administrator and a designer for its computer-aided drafting system, which is used to custom design products. Around March of 2013, authorities say that Cox began covertly copying the company’s entire computer system to an external hard drive. Over a period of three months, Cox apparently loaded all of EMF’s proprietary digital information, including thousands of files containing its CAD designs, financial data, sensitive personnel records, and operational and technical documents onto this external device.

As part of his plea, Cox admitted that when he resigned from EMF in June 2013, he took the hard drive containing the stolen EMF data and brought it with him to his new employer, a direct competitor of EMF. Cox then copied multiple files to the new employer’s system and altered the CAD designs to appear as if they had been created by the competitor. The doctored CAD designs were subsequently used by the competitor in obtaining over $45,000 in new contracts with customers that had previously been EMF clients.

Prosecutor’s say that Cox further admitted that before quitting EMF, he used his system administrator privileges to secretly configure EMF’s email account settings to auto-forward all of its email communications to two external email accounts he had registered. The intercepted emails included personal correspondence, private financial and legal information, and business dealings between EMF and its clients. After being questioned by investigators, Cox secretly deleted the contents of those email accounts to obstruct the investigation.

“Companies have the right to keep their proprietary interests out of the hands of competitors,” said Minkler. “Those who choose to steal from their employer and then attempt to obstruct a criminal investigation will be held accountable.”

The Cybercrime and High Technology Section of the Indiana State Police and U.S. Secret Service investigated the case, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.

An annual fundraiser to help area children with disabilities brought in nearly $19,000. Tom Harpring, director of communications at Developmental Services, Inc., says that last week’s DSI Golf Classic raised $18,900. The outing, which recently completed its 32nd year, was held June 7th at Otter Creek Golf Course in Columbus.

Harpring says that Team Mancinos, made up of Columbus residents David Gregory and Damon Gregory, along with Todd Weatherwax, of Greensburg and Daniel Fix, of Osgood, shot a 19-under-par 53 to win the scramble.

DSI officials say that since the first installment of this fundraiser in 1985, the DSI Golf Classic has raised nearly $440,000 for DSI’s Children’s Service. That is the organization that provides therapies for infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities, as well as support and education for families.

You have the opportunity to help area youths receive a “hands-on” learning experience in skills they’ll need for the future. Nathan Larrison is the director of the Boys & Girls Club of Columbus.

Larrison says the space will benefit area youths for years to come.

Larrison says they need $38,000. The good news is that, thanks to a matching grant, the Boys & Girls Club only needs to raise $19,000. For more information on how you can help, visit FoundationForYouth.com or the FFY’s Facebook page.

The installation of a water meter has resulted in a Boil Order for some customers of Nashville Utilities. The utility says that the installation of the meter, at Old State Road 46 and Snyder Hill, has led to the boil order for customers in the following areas:

245 Old State Road 46 to 1792 Old State Road 46;
75 Snyder Road;
234 Coffey Hill Road to 598 Coffey Hill Road;
637 Highland Drive to 935 Highland Drive;
204 Tuck A Way Ridge to 1185 Tuck A Way Ridge;
465 McGee Road to 765 McGee Road;
801 Eads Lane to 989 Eads Lane;
768 Mail Pouch Lane to 845 Mail Pouch Lane;
726 Clay Lick Road to 1170 Clay Lick Road;
1055 Treetop Lane to 1080 Treetop Lane;
1098 Hill Top Lane to 1104 Hill Top Lane;
1610 Jacob’s Lane to 1634 Jacob’s Lane;
1655 Magnolia Lane to 1683 Magnolia Lane;
1770 Bryson Lane to 1772 Bryson Lane

Residents and businesses in these areas should boil all cooking and drinking water through 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

Customers who have questions should call Nashville Utilities at (812) 988-5526.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is asking for your help locating this week’s most-wanted fugitive. Deputies are looking for 25-year-old Brittnee Bernice Bryant. She is described as a white female standing 5’7″ tall and weighing 200 pounds. Authorities say that Bryant has blond hair, brown eyes and tattoos on her lower back as well as her right shoulder. She is wanted on six outstanding warrants.

If you have any information on Bryant’s whereabouts, you are asked to call Capt. Dave Steinkoenig at (812)565-5940 or the Sheriff’s Department Tip Line at (812) 379-1712. You can also contact authorities via email at sheriff@bartholomew.in.gov. Tips and information can be left anonymously.

The Columbus Police Department is urging you to be on guard against a potential scam. Lt. Matt Harris, department spokesman, says that CPD received a complaint of a suspicious person going door-to-door selling alarm systems in several neighborhoods in the northern part of the city.

Harris says the worker claimed to be selling the systems for Vault Security and advised the homeowner that he had registered with the police department. While there is a company called Vault Security located in Texas, CPD says they have no record of anyone registering to solicit.

Due to the large number of ongoing scams, Columbus Police ask that you please report any suspicious activity. You are also reminded to not give out personal information or let strangers into your home. Harris adds that all solicitors must register with the police department in advance and are issued identification paperwork showing they are registered.

Saturday is a big day at the Columbus Municipal Airport. Brian Payne is the airport director.

Payne talks about the air shows.

Payne talks about the purpose of Aviation Day.

In addition, there will be a pancake breakfast, bounce houses and a car show among other activities. Payne noted that Aviation Day is free, but there will be food and beverage vendors on site, as well as opportunities to take a quick flight in various aircraft. Those trips will cost you.

For more on Aviation Day and the Columbus Municipal Airport, visit www.columbus.in.gov/airport/.

One vehicle ended up on its roof after a crash Thursday evening on State Road 46 in Columbus. Witnesses say that at around 6 p.m., a vehicle in the eastbound lanes near I-65 tried to cross westbound traffic to get to a convenience store when it was t-boned and flipped.

Traffic was still slow at the time of this story’s publishing.

Witnesses say there didn’t appear to be any serious injuries, but we are awaiting a response from authorities to verify.

The Columbus Area Arts Council has announced a pair of free concerts in the coming weeks that are targeted towards children and their families. The shows are set for June 15th and June 22nd, beginning at noon in the Donner Park Shelterhouse at 22nd and Sycamore Streets. These free shows are being co-presented with Columbus Parks and Recreation.

Noon Kids Concerts are fun, interactive performances that encourage kids and their families to participate. “CAAC’s mission is integrating art and cultural experiences into community life,” says Kathryn Armstrong, CAAC Executive Director. She adds, “Noon Kids Concerts are a great example of that mission in action. Donner Park is a hub of community life in the summertime, so it’s a great place to have performances for families! Kids are going to love these fun events.”

Noon Kids Concerts:

● THE PIRATE SHOW Thursday, June 15, Noon
Ahoy, landlubbers! Aye, Captain Paul, me hearty Matey, brings the golden age of pirates to life through tales and sea shanties. With the help of clues, the audience will discover the key to the treasure chest.

● BUM DITTY BUM Thursday, June 22, Noon
Hoosier author, teacher, and songwriter Jerry D. Maulin creates an hour of fun with stories and songs. Get ready to tap your toes and sing along!

For more on these, and other arts council events, visit www.artsincolumbus.org.

Ivy Tech is offering an opportunity for advanced manufacturing employees in Jackson County to become Certified Production Technicians through a free certification program offered by the school this fall at the Jackson County Learning Center.

Ivy Tech officials say the program will offer Manufacturing Skills Standards Council training, an industry-led training, assessment, and certification system focused on the core skills and knowledge needed by the nation’s front-line production and material handling workers.

Classes will be from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays from August 8 through December 12 at the Jackson County Learning Center in Seymour. The program is free, courtesy of a grant from Duke Energy. Without the utility company’s help, Ivy Tech says the training would cost $2,600 per person. The class size is limited to 17 people.

Ivy Tech says this is an excellent opportunity for manufacturing workers to make themselves more marketable and earn a better wage.

For more information or to register, contact Ivy Tech Workforce Alignment Program Manager Rhonda Jackson at (812) 374-5182 or rjackson125@ivytech.edu.