She resigned in June after the investigation began, and now says she’s not fighting the charges that could send her to prison for the rest of her life. Solomon also advised Byrd-Bennett to delete her emails, according to the indictment.
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During a news conference Thursday afternoon, USA prosecutors and federal law enforcement described another Chicago-style scheme to rip off the taxpayers.
According to federal authorities, Byrd-Bennett concocted the scheme with Gary Solomon, the former Dean of Niles Township High School and CEO of the SUPES Academy and Synesi Associates LLC.
Byrd-Bennett’s attorney, Michael Scudder, said his client would do so “as part of accepting full responsibility for her conduct”. Fardon didn’t specify what charges would be involved.
The indictment charges Byrd-Bennett with 15 counts of mail fraud and five counts of wire fraud. According to the Chicago Tribune, the investigation had also extended to City Hall, with subpoenaed letters from SUPES bragging about sway held over the mayor’s office and their heavy involvement in the recruitment of several officials.
“Graft and corruption in our city’s public school system tears at the fabric of a vital resource for the children of Chicago”, Fardon said in a statement. With no public discussion, the six board members who were there voted for the contract, including Jesse Ruiz, who served briefly as Byrd-Bennett’s temporary replacement after she left. A school district spokeswoman didn’t immediately have comment. During the last round of negotiations, teachers in Chicago went on strike for the first time in 25 years.
The indictment seeks forfeiture from defendants Solomon, Vranas, SUPES and Synesi of all money and property traceable to the violations, estimated at approximately $2 million.
Soloman’s attorney released a statement saying Soloman and his companies have cooperated with investigators.
Prosecutors allege that the former leader of Chicago Public Schools steered no-bid contracts to a training agency where she once worked in exchange for kickbacks and bribes. The Wilmette, Ill., firm trains principals and superintendents. She was appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel. A CPS committee set up to evaluate no-bid contracts initially balked at awarding SUPES a noncompetitive deal, but less than a month later approved the plan.
The former CEO of Chicago Public Schools has been indicted on corruption charges following a federal investigation into a $20 million no-bid contract.
SUPES Academy employed Byrd-Bennett as a training coach before she landed at CPS.
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Katten, who leads the parent advocacy group Raise Your Hand, had raised objections to the Supes Leadership Academy contract that got Bennett in trouble with the feds.
