Head of Companies Involved in CPS Kickback Scheme Pleads Guilty

CHICAGO, IL - The owner of two education-services companies connected to the Chicago Public Schools kickback scheme involving former chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett admitted to promising the disgraced former school leader she would be “the highest paid person on the planet” for a day while pleading guilty to one count of honest services wire fraud on Tuesday.

Gary Solomon, owner of Wilmette-based SUPES Academy and Evanston-based Synesi, planned to offer Byrd-Bennett - a former employee - a one-time signing bonus in the form of employment in return for CPS steering his company a $2.09 million contract to train principals.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Solomon maintained a line item within his company’s internal financial statements to set aside the kickback money and sent Byrd-Bennett an email indicating plans for making her “the highest paid person on the planet for that day” when she would return to the company for a day in the official role of consultant.

“Regardless, it will be paid out on day one,” Solomon wrote, also offering Byrd-Bennett other benefits including means and tickets to sporting events.

Solomon, the last of five defendants to plead guilty in the case, could face as much as 20 years in prison. He will be sentenced on March 24, 2017.

The two North Shore education companies associated with Solomon also pleaded guilty as corporate defendants to honest services while fraud.

An expected fine of as high as $6.4 million is possible for each company, who will also pay CPS $254,000 in restitution.