More Chicago corruption via a Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel hand-picked appointee… Re: Former Chicago Schools Chief Pleads Guilty in Kickback Scheme - WSJ Former Chicago Schools Chief Pleads Guilty in Kickback Scheme By Mark Peters, WSJ Updated Oct. 13, 2015 4:17 p.m. ET CHICAGO—The former chief executive of the nation’s third-largest school district pleaded guilty to fraud Tuesday, just days after being indicted in what prosecutors described as a kickback and bribery scheme. Barbara Byrd-Bennett, who resigned as chief executive of Chicago Public Schools earlier this year, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Under the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend the 66-year-old be sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison. In federal court, Ms. Byrd-Bennett answered a series of standard questions before pleading. But afterward, she stepped in front of a bank of cameras in the courthouse lobby and offered a brief apology to the families and teachers in the school district. “I am terribly sorry, and I apologize to them. They deserve much more than I gave to them,” Ms. Byrd-Bennett said. The plea came less than a week after Ms. Byrd-Bennett was indicted on 20 counts of wire and mail fraud connected to what prosecutors said was a scheme to steer more than $23 million in school district contracts to two consulting firms for which she once worked. The indictment laid out steps Ms. Byrd-Bennett took to hide her financial relationships with the firms and ensure they won approval from the school board without having to go through a bidding process. Prosecutors said Ms. Byrd-Bennett received such benefits as sports tickets and meals, and agreed to have accounts set up in the names of her relatives to accept payments from the firms. Such payments were based on a percentage of the contracts the firm received and became a “signing bonus” Ms. Byrd-Bennett would receive after leaving her job with the district and returning to consulting, according to the indictment. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to drop 19 of the 20 charges against Ms. Byrd-Bennett and recommended the seven-and-a-half year sentence, which is less than the expected 11-year to 14-year range set down in federal sentencing guidelines. The plea by Ms. Byrd-Bennett is the latest blow to the school district here, which is struggling with mounting fiscal problems. Her indictment has put new pressure on Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who appointed her chief executive in the fall of 2012. In recent days, the mayor has defended how his administration handled the vetting of district contracts during Ms. Byrd-Bennett’s tenure, while highlighting changes made since she left, including the appointment of new school board members. Mr. Emanuel said he takes responsibility for appointing Ms. Byrd-Bennett, but said she and others charged in the case are the ones who concocted the scheme. “She clearly took her time here to enrich herself, and that is wrong,” he said Monday. Besides Ms. Byrd-Bennett, federal prosecutors last week indicted Supes Academy and Synesi Associates and their former owners Gary Solomon and Thomas Vranas on fraud and bribery charges. Mr. Solomon and Mr. Vranas are scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday. A lawyer representing Mr. Solomon said his client will plead not guilty Wednesday as discussions with prosecutors over resolving the case continue. A lawyer for Mr. Vranas said his client looks forward to resolving the case, but that won’t happen Wednesday.
