• About
  • Advertise
  • Login
  • Sign up

Progress Illinois

  • Home
  • Explore
  • Masthead
Hot Topics  Illinois Budget   Election 2016   Accountability

Search form

News Wednesday October 14th, 2015, 4:35pm

SUPES Co-Owners Plead Not Guilty In Corruption Case

Gary Solomon and Thomas Vranas, co-owners of SUPES Academy who were indicted last week alongside former CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett, have pleaded not guilty in an alleged multimillion-dollar kickback scheme. 

The "not guilty" pleas from the two men and their two companies, the SUPES Academy and Synesi Associates, were entered in federal court on Wednesday.

Byrd-Bennett was indicted last Thursday for allegedly steering $23 million in no-bid contracts to SUPES Academy and Synesi Associates, her former employers, in exchange for $2.3 million in kickbacks.  She was indicted on 20 counts of mail and wire fraud, but pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to one wire fraud charge as part of her plea agreement with prosecutors.  

Solomon and Vranas face charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, bribery and conspiracy to defraud the United States. 

Sources

  • News links: 
    Chicago Sun-Times

Share

  • Facebook logo
  • Twitter logo
  • Digg logo
  • Google logo
  • LinkedIn logo
  • Reddit logo
  • StumbleUpon logo
  • Yahoo logo
  • Tumblr logo

Tags

  • Bribery
  • Chicago
  • Chicago Public Schools
  • City of Chicago
  • Contracts
  • Corruption
  • CPS
  • Education
  • Federal government
  • Federal investigation
  • Fraud
  • Indictment
  • Mail fraud
  • School Actions
  • School closings
  • SUPES Academy
  • Synesi Associates
  • United States
  • Wire fraud

Public figures

  • Barbara Byrd-Bennett
  • Gary Solomon
  • Thomas Vranas

Level of gov't

  • City of Chicago
  • Federal Government

Recent content

Wed
2.3.16
Tue
2.2.16
Mon
2.1.16
News
  • Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Sending Bottled Water To Flint
  • Racial Disparities Persist In Illinois Across Well-Being Measures, Report Finds
  • Budget Impasse Taking A Toll On Urbana-Based Rape Crisis Center
  • Report: LGBT Rights, Protections Fall Short In Most States
  • Black Lives Matter Sues IPRA Over Records In Dante Servin Investigation
Quick Hits
  • CTU Closes Bank Of America Account Over 'Toxic' Interest Rate Swaps (VIDEO)
News
  • Record Participation Seen Among Young Iowans As Hillary Clinton Eeks Out A Win
  • Alvarez Maintains Lead In Cook Co. State's Attorney's Race
  • Schneider Gets Waukegan Township Democrats Endorsement
  • Rauner Planning State Takeover Of CPS; District Preps To Cut $100 Million (UPDATED)
Quick Hits
  • With State Owing Agency $1 Million, Chicago Home Care Service Struggles To Keep Doors Open (UPDATED)
News
  • Democratic Presidential Race Too Close To Call In Iowa Caucus
  • Cruz Projected Republican Winner In Iowa Caucus
  • Chicago Ald. Will Burns Stepping Down To Work At Airbnb
  • CTU's 'Big Bargaining Team' Rejects CPS Contract Offer (UPDATED)
  • Poll: Emanuel's Disapproval Rating At 63 Percent
  • Chicago Had 50 Homicides, 280 Shootings In January
  • Poll Shows Tight Race Between Clinton, Sanders In Iowa
Quick Hits
  • Supporters Of Cook County 'Responsible Business Act' Protest At Walmart (VIDEO)

Top Stories

Health Care
After U Of C Trauma Center Announcement, Activists Talk Next Steps
State of Illinois
Illinois Retirement Savings Program Could Benefit 1.2 Million Workers
State of Illinois
Rauner's State Of The State Address Sidesteps Illinois' Blaring Fiscal Problems, Critics Say
Progress Illinois
Advertise | About | Contact
© 2008 - 2016 Progressive Illinois LLC, All rights reserved