[BreachExchange] Kansas Man Admits Hacking Public Water Facility

[Terrell Byrd]

https://www.securityweek.com/kansas-man-admits-hacking-public-water-facility

Roughly seven months after being indicted for his actions, a Kansas man
admitted in court to tampering with the systems at the Post Rock Rural
Water District.

The man, Wyatt Travnichek, 23, of Lorraine, was an employee of the
Ellsworth County drinking water treatment facility between January 2018 and
January 2019.

As part of his role with the facility, he would use a remote login system
to monitor the plant after hours, according to documents presented in court.

In March 2019, two months after resigning his position at the Post Rock
Rural Water District, Travnichek used the same remote login system to shut
down the facility and turn one of its filters off.

The plant’s system, investigators discovered, was accessed from
Travnichek’s cell phone and the device was in his possession when the
facility was shut down. The defendant told investigators that on the night
of the incident he was intoxicated and didn’t remember anything.

“Protecting America's drinking water is a top EPA priority. EPA will
continue our focused efforts with DOJ and the states as we investigate and
pursue any threats that might be directed toward vital community drinking
water resources,” said Lance Ehrig of the Environmental Protection Agency’s
Criminal Investigation Division in Kansas.

Travnichek pleaded guilty to damaging a computer during unauthorized access
and to tampering with a public water system. The EPA and the FBI recommend
a sentence of 12 months and one day in prison.
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