SUPES co-owner pleads guilty in CPS kickback scheme
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.
Byrd-Bennett pleaded guilty to charges she accepted those bribes in October 2015.
Solomon pleaded guilty to one count of honest services wire fraud.
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.
