In addition to the offending parties, the investigation, which is still ongoing, raises questions into the conduct of the Emanuel administration. Speaking of the charges Thursday following and awards banquet, the mayor said that he was “both disappointed (and) saddened by the details around the charges.” Emanuel added, “I think when people serve the public, they should uphold the trust the public puts in them. At least based on the details around the charges, that wasn’t the case here.” Nobody from the administration was subpoenaed during the investigation according to spokesperson Kelly Quinn; but given the connection between Solomon, who also helped recommend Jean-Claude Brizard, who Byrd-Bennett succeeded, as Emanuel’s first CPS CEO in 2011, speculation of foreknowledge remains high.
The vortex of public-sector corruption that occupies the I-55 corridor between Springfield and Chicago is one of the most perplexing phenomena of the past half-century. Although many major urban areas like New York or Detroit have faced plenty of high-profile government scandals, they have remained the exception. For some reason in Illinois, it is the rule. Four governors have been convicted of some form of corruption in the past fifty years, 1,500 Illinois public officials have been convicted of some form of corruption between 1970 and 2011, according to the Washington Post. In addition to two state representative convictions last year, the tally will increase once more when former Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett pleads guilty to Thursday’s 43-page federal indictment. The U.S. Attorney’s office is accusing Byrd-Bennett of accepting thousands of dollars in kickbacks, and promises of up to $2.3 million in overall compensation, for steering over $23 million in no-bid contracts to her previous employer, the education consulting firm SUPES Academy.
Byrd-Bennett’s attorney Michael Scudder announced on Thursday afternoon that she will plead guilty to the charges, adding “As part of accepting full responsibility for her conduct, she will continue to cooperate with the government, including testifying truthfully if called upon to do so.”The former CPS head is being charged with 15 counts of mail fraud and five counts of wire fraud. Each count contains a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, according to U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon. It is unknown, however, how much time she will be required to serve as terms of the plea agreement. SUPES Academy co-owners Gary Solomon and Thomas Vranas are also included in the 23-count indictment for their part in the bribery scheme. Solomon’s attorney Shelly Kulwin said he is not planning on going to trial, indicating that a guilty plea will be forthcoming from Solomon as well. The pair will face charges of bribery of a government official, along with mail and wire fraud. Soloman and Vranas will be indicted at a later time and face U.S. District Judge Edmund Chang, according to records.
Byrd-Bennett was hired by the school district in April 2012 to serve as the chief education advisor. Per Solomon’s recommendation, she was promoted to CEO six months later. She took a leave of absence in April of this year when the investigation into her activities was announced, resigning in June. According to the indictment, Solomon wrote emails to Byrd-Bennett outlining the scheme. In one communication, Soloman writes, “When this stint at CPS is done and you are ready to … retire, we have your spot waiting for you. Hopefully with even more work and more (opportunity).” In another correspondence, Solomon wrote about a planned $254,000 “signing bonus upon your return to SUPES,” promising to increase the pool throughout her term, adding “If you only join for the day, you will be the highest paid person on the planet for that day.” The indictment also quotes Byrd-Bennett as writing that she had “tuition to pay and casinos to visit.” Another communication from Byrd-Bennett states, “I would like the flexibility to use funds for whatever reason as needed for them,” according to the charges. Former federal prosecutor and security consultant Jeffery Cramer says, “To literally set forth how the payments are going to be made going forward is strikingly inept.”
In addition to the offending parties, the investigation, which is still ongoing, raises questions into the conduct of the Emanuel administration. Speaking of the charges Thursday following and awards banquet, the mayor said that he was “both disappointed (and) saddened by the details around the charges.” Emanuel added, “I think when people serve the public, they should uphold the trust the public puts in them. At least based on the details around the charges, that wasn’t the case here.” Nobody from the administration was subpoenaed during the investigation according to spokesperson Kelly Quinn; but given the connection between Solomon, who also helped recommend Jean-Claude Brizard, who Byrd-Bennett succeeded, as Emanuel’s first CPS CEO in 2011, speculation of foreknowledge remains high. The SUPES Academy contract in question involved a training program for mid-level administrators and principals which began as a pilot project in 2011. The first major expansion of the program, a $2 million no-bid contract, was awarded to SUPES Academy on October 24th, 2012, the same day that Byrd-Bennett took over as CEO. The ongoing investigation and the cooperative plea agreements lend to the speculation that the scandal may reach even higher. Given the nature of politics in the state, it is difficult to assess if Emanuel was truly unaware of the scheme, or if it is merely another case of “Illinois business as usual.”
Sources:
Chicago Tribune – Jason Meisner and Juan Perez Jr.
Reuters – Mary Wisniewski
The Daily Caller – Blake Neff
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