In the Dotte dispatch: How 2 friends stole $1M from KCK in casino scheme
Editor’s note: The following is from today’s In the Dotte newsletter, published weekly on Tuesdays. You can sign up here to get them delivered to your inbox.
Good morning, Wyandotte County!
Today, I ask you: How is it that two bookkeepers were able to steal $1 million from the district court system? And how did it go on for five years without notice?
I’m Sofi Zeman, your guide through all things KCK. Welcome back to “In the Dotte.” Let’s get to it.
Despite maintaining their innocence six months ago, two former bookkeepers at the Wyandotte County District Court pleaded guilty last week to a wire fraud conspiracy that allowed them to steal almost $1 million in public funds.
In a plea agreement that they recently took, Julia Roberts of KCK and Vicki Robinson of Bonner Springs confessed to conspiring to write and deposit forged checks to hide that they were pocketing incoming cash payments made to the Wyandotte County District Court.
They stole $979,962 between January 2018 and February 2023, according to court documents. And during that time, Roberts put tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars into a nearby casino.
So whose idea was this scheme? And how were they found out? Check out my latest for all the details.
Enjoying this newsletter? Share it with a friend. If it was forwarded to you, sign up here.
And, if you have questions about Wyandotte County or a tip about what else I should look into, please email me at szeman@kcstar.com.
Con sabor
🍸 A new bar fueling dog adoptions and serving Cher-inspired food just opened in KCK, joining the list of beloved bars in the historic neighborhood.
Sofi’s selects
🥫 If your EBT card was frozen recently, you’re not the only one. DCF reported that someone allegedly stole up to $50,000 in food assistance from more than 300 people near KCK.
🦫 Beaver, incoming! As Wyandotte makes way for a massive Buc-ee’s travel center, officials said residents should expect these road closures.
What in the UG
📃 The Unified Government is suing a longtime state and local official for allegedly falsifying information on his tax forms. He’s calling the lawsuit a defamation ploy.
🚨 KCKPD welcomed a class of recruits who will be tasked with the future of local policing. The department said the new class reflects its diversity goals. See the numbers.
Thank you for reading. See ya back here next week!
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This story was originally published January 20, 2026 at 12:55 PM.
