SUPES co-owner pleads guilty in CPS kickback scheme

Tuesday, October 18, 2016
CHICAGO (WLS) -- One of the co-owners of SUPES Academy pleaded guilty Tuesday in connection with bribing former CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett for no-bid educational contracts.

READ: GARY SOLOMON PLEA AGREEMENT

Gary Solomon initially pleaded not guilty a year ago, but changed his plea. He along with co-owner of the educational consulting firm, Thomas Vranas, are accused of offering the bribes in exchange for steering a $23 million no-bid contract with Chicago Public Schools to their firm, SUPES Academy.
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Byrd-Bennett pleaded guilty to charges she accepted those bribes in October 2015.

Solomon pleaded guilty to one count of honest services wire fraud.
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Sentencing is set for March 24, 2017. He could face up to 20 years in prison plus $254,000 restitution.

READ: SUPES ACADEMY PLEA AGREEMENT

READ: SYNESI PLEA AGREEMENT

Byrd-Bennett resigned from CPS on June 1, 2015 after being on paid leave from the district since mid-April amid a federal investigation into the no-bid contract given to SUPES Academy, where Byrd-Bennett once worked. She was indicted on corruption charges in October 2015. She pleaded guilty to one of the 20 fraud counts - the others were dismissed.

Thomas Vranas, co-owner of SUPES Academy, leaves court on Oct. 14, 2015.



Barbara Byrd-Bennett, former Chicago Public Schools CEO.

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