Ex-Chicago Public Schools CEO Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes

Norman Parish | As of Thursday, October 15, 2015

Mayor Rahm Emanuel had picked Barbara Byrd-Bennett (pictured) to oversee Chicago Public Schools.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel had picked Barbara Byrd-Bennett (pictured) to oversee Chicago Public Schools.

Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett pleaded guilty Tuesday to accepting bribes in an alleged kickback scheme.

Bryd-Bennett, who pleaded guilty to one of about 20 federal charges, admitted that she steered no-bid contracts worth more than $23 million to two education-consulting firms, the SUPES Academy and SYNESI Associates. In exchange, she expected to receive cash kickbacks from the companies, as well as a consulting job at SUPES upon her retirement from the public school system.

Byrd-Bennett previously worked as a consultant for SUPES and Synesi before moving to the Chicago Public Schools, where she served as Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s handpicked CEO from October, 2012 to last June.

Byrd-Bennett tearfully apologized for her actions after the hearing as she talked to reporters in the lobby of the federal courthouse in downtown Chicago.

“My message is for the children, and the families of the children, of Chicago Public Schools, and the incredible, dedicated educators we have,” she said. “I am terribly sorry, and I apologize to them. They deserve much more, much more than I gave to them.”

Kelley Quinn, a spokeswoman for Emanuel, issued a statement saying, “Today, Barbara Byrd-Bennett took responsibility for putting her own financial gain ahead of what was in the best interest of the children she pledged to serve. This continues to be a matter for the courts. The mayor and Chicago Public Schools’ leadership will continue to focus on our students, teachers and principals so that we can continue the progress that is being made in classrooms across the city, and enact further safeguards to help prevent this type of abuse from happening again.”

In the case, Byrd-Bennett, 66, was to receive the money in the form of a “signing bonus” on the first day of her new job, according to the plea agreement.

Prosecutors alleged a contractor agreed to her a percentage of gross revenues of any CPS contract awarded to SUPES, if she helped the sales.

She also received tickets to sporting events, meals and money for a holiday party she threw for CPS staffers, the indictment reads.

“I have tuition to pay and casinos to visit,” Byrd-Bennett wrote in an email when talking about the plans, according to the indictment.

She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, mandatory restitution and a maximum fine of $250,000.

Prosecutors said Byrd-Bennett could receive a seven and half year sentence if she cooperates with officials in the case.

Byrd-Bennett will be sentenced a later date.

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Gary Solomon, 47, is charged with 15 counts of mail fraud, five counts of wire fraud, two counts of bribery of a government official, and one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. His business partner, Thomas Vranas, 34, (not shown) is charged with 15 counts of mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud, two counts of bribery of a government official, and one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S.

In the case, Byrd-Bennett was charged last week along with the Wilmette-based SUPES and the Evanston-based Synesi former owners Gary Solomon and Thomas Vranas.

Solomon, 47, of Wilmette, is charged with 15 counts of mail fraud, five counts of wire fraud, two counts of bribery of a government official, and one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Vranas, 34, of Glenview, is charged with 15 counts of mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud, two counts of bribery of a government official, and one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S.

Their arraignment hearings are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. They could not be reached for comment. Last checked on Tuesday by the Chicago Citizen Newspaper, The SUPES Academy website had been deactivated. The SYNESI Associates Facebook page had also been deactivated.

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