SUPES Academy owners plead not guilty in kickback scheme

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Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Thomas Vranas, co-owner of SUPES Academy, leaves court on Oct. 14, 2015.
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CHICAGO (WLS) -- The co-owners of an educational consulting firm pleaded not guilty Wednesday to offering bribes to former CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett.

Gary Solomon and Thomas Vranas are accused of offering the bribes in exchange for steering a $23 million no-bid contract to their firm, SUPES Academy.

Byrd-Bennett pleaded guilty to charges she accepted those bribes on Tuesday.