USA v. Byrd-Bennett et al

  1. April 28, 2017

    Ex-Chicago Schools CEO Sentenced To Over 4 Years In Prison

    The onetime leader of Chicago's public school district was slapped with a 4½-year prison sentence on Friday for steering nearly $23 million in city contracts toward a former employer in anticipation of future kickbacks.

  2. April 10, 2017

    Gov't Says Vendor Deserves 39 Mos. In Chicago Bribery Case

    The U.S. government on Friday urged an Illinois federal judge to sentence a man who helped organize kickbacks for an ex-CEO of Chicago Public Schools to 39 months in prison, arguing that while he was originally ignorant of the scheme, Thomas Vranas knew better and eventually worked to further the scheme.

  3. April 07, 2017

    Ex-Chicago Schools Chief Asks For 3.5 Years After Guilty Plea

    The former head of Chicago's public school system on Friday asked an Illinois federal court for a 3 1/2-year prison sentence, saying her cooperation and lifelong commitment to public education should afford her some leniency after she pled guilty to accepting bribes in exchange for $23 million in no-bid city contracts.

  4. March 24, 2017

    Bribing Of Chicago Official Lands Vendor 7-Year Sentence

    A federal judge on Friday sentenced an Illinois businessman to seven years in prison for bribing the former head of Chicago's public school system into awarding him over $20 million in city contracts, with the judge saying he believed the businessman acted "out of greed, not need."

  5. March 02, 2017

    Feds Seek Lengthy Sentence For 'Mastermind' Of $20M Fraud

    Prosecutors told an Illinois federal judge that the co-owner of a pair of educational services companies should be imprisoned for nine years as the "mastermind" behind a scheme to steer $20 million in Chicago city contracts toward his companies, a characterization the business owner disputed in his own comments to the court Wednesday.

  6. October 18, 2016

    Final Defendant Pleads In Chicago Schools Bribery Scandal

    The last remaining person charged in a scheme to bribe the CEO of the Chicago Public Schools to steer more than $20 million in contracts to two Chicago-area education companies entered a guilty plea Tuesday, bringing the case to a close without a challenge to the allegations.

  7. September 21, 2016

    3rd Person Pleads Guilty In Chicago Schools Bribery Scandal

    The co-owner of two education companies accused of trading bribes for more than $20 million in Chicago Public Schools contracts signed a plea agreement with prosecutors, they told an Illinois federal judge Wednesday.

  8. April 12, 2016

    Education Co. Owner Admits Bribing Head Of Chicago Schools

    A co-owner of two education consulting and training companies pled guilty in Illinois federal court Tuesday to funneling gifts and cash to the former head of Chicago Public Schools in exchange for $23 million in no-bid contracts.