I informed the board last night of some very disturbing news. Our district has recently fallen victim to a serious criminal activity involving email theft and wire fraud. On December 10th, we received a call from Hometown Bank regarding a fraudulent wire transfer. This incident is part of a troubling pattern, with multiple fraudulent transactions occurring over a brief 20-day period, totaling approximately $1.2 million.

Immediately, we reached out to the Friendswood Police Department, and Chief Josh Rogers personally took the call. His team is actively investigating this matter and is committed to uncovering how this fraud occurred. We are focused on recovering the lost taxpayer funds and ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice.

This situation underscores the increasing prevalence of cybercrime, which can affect any organization, regardless of its size or resources. As a public entity, we are dedicated to transparency and accountability. It is important for you to know that we are taking all necessary steps to address this issue and protect our community’s interests.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we navigate this unfortunate situation.

Sincerely,

-- Rusty Burkett, GCCDD Board President