Latest news with #ChristyBrady
CBS News
23-05-2025
- CBS News
School District of Philadelphia paid nearly $700,000 to bad actors in cyber fraud scheme
The School District of Philadelphia appears to have been hit with a cyber fraud scheme that resulted in nearly $700,000 being diverted, authorities said. City Controller Christy Brady made a joint announcement on Thursday with Councilmember Isaiah Thomas and District Superintendent Tony Watlington. According to the release from the Office of the City Controller of Philadelphia, one of the payments totaled more than $560,000 for services involving flood damage repair work, and three other payments were made for compensatory services. Brady said during fiscal year 2024, malicious actors apparently posed as two legitimate vendors and were sent money electronically using an automated clearing house. "Based on the information provided to our office, it appears the bad actors gained unauthorized access to the school district's banking data or manipulated existing payment systems to send unauthorized funds to their own accounts," Brady said. The real vendors didn't get the funds. So far, those payments have not been recovered. "We want to ensure taxpayer dollars are dedicated to meeting educational needs and enriching students' experiences," Thomas said in the release. "We are committed to full transparency in the spending and management of tax dollars. The public has a right to know how their money is being used." The fraud was limited to specific vendor payment processes and did not put student data or the school system's financial data system at risk, a news release from the school district said. Neither incident involved the school district paying more than it owed to the vendors, according to the district. Brady said she has asked the Pennsylvania attorney general to investigate. A spokesperson for the School District of Philadelphia said the district implemented several measures to combat cyber fraud, such as revising bank confirmation processes, improving the process to validate payment changes with vendors, and strengthening internal controls. "I strongly value collaboration and grateful for the continued support of the school district and governing officials," Brady said. "By working together, we will assist the school district in recovering any available funds and implementing safeguards to prevent future fraud."
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
2025 Pennsylvania primary election results for Philadelphia DA, controller and more
Voters in the Philadelphia area cast their ballots in the 2025 Pennsylvania primary election on Tuesday. The polls are now closed, and results are starting to come in. See live results for Philadelphia district attorney, Philadelphia controller, Commonwealth Court and Superior Court. Philadelphia District Attorney Former Philadelphia Municipal Court President Judge Pat Dugan is hoping to unseat two-time incumbent Larry Krasner in the Democratic primary. Krasner is seeking a third term after he focused on reducing incarceration, supporting victims and holding police accountable during his first two terms as DA. Despite political opposition claiming he should be tougher on crime, Krasner points to significant drops in violent crime and homicides as evidence his reforms are working. Meanwhile, Dugan, a U.S. Army veteran, is running for district attorney to take a tougher stance on crime, criticizing Krasner's approach. He plans to localize the DA's office, prioritize prosecuting violent offenders, expand resources for diversionary programs for low-level crimes, and hire more locally trained attorneys. No Republican filed to run for DA. Philadelphia Controller In the Philadelphia City Controller race, incumbent Christy Brady is running unopposed in the Democratic primary, and stockbroker Ari Patrinos is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Commonwealth Court The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania has one open seat after Judge Ellen Ceisler retired in January. In the Democratic primary, Stella Tsai, a judge on the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, is running unopposed. In the Republican primary, environmental attorney Matthew Wolford and civil rights attorney Joshua Prince are vying for the nomination. The Commonwealth Court is an appellate court that handles appeals to decisions made by Pennsylvania state agencies and civil cases brought by and against Pennsylvania. Superior Court The Superior Court of Pennsylvania has one open seat after Judge Dan McCaffery's election to the state Supreme Court in 2023. In the Democratic primary, Brandon P. Neuman, a judge on the Washington County Court of Common Pleas and former Democratic state representative, is running unopposed. In the Republican primary, Maria Battista, a former assistant district attorney, and Ann Marie Wheatcraft, president judge of the Chester County Court of Common Pleas, are vying for the nomination. On the same level as the Commonwealth Court, the Superior Court handles appeals in criminal and civil cases from the lower Courts of Common Pleas. The primary results will determine each party's nominee for the general election in November.
