Far Out: woman guilty of false reports of illegal bank account access from International Space Station

HOUSTON - A 50-year-old resident of Sedgwick County, Kansas, has pleaded guilty to lying to law enforcement, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

In July 2019, Summer Heather Worden alleged her estranged spouse had guessed the password and illegally accessed her bank account while the spouse was deployed to the International Space Station.

However, Worden had actually opened the account in April 2018. Both parties had accessed it until January 2019 when Worden changed the credentials.

The investigation revealed Worden had granted her spouse access to her bank records from at least 2015, including her login credentials.

U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett accepted the plea Nov. 13. He will impose sentencing Feb. 12, 2026. At that time, Worden faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Worden was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

NASA-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard D. Hanes and Brandon Fyffe prosecuted the case.