FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 01, 2015

11 CONVICTED IN

ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS CHEATING SCANDAL

Defendants Guilty of Conspiring to Cheat on Standardized

Tests for Personal Gain

Atlanta- Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. announces a

conviction by jury trial in the historic Atlanta Public Schools cheating

case. Jurors returned guilty verdicts Wednesday afternoon against eleven

defendants on racketeering charges or Conspiracy to Violate the Racketeer

Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Eight of the defendants

were also convicted of other charges including False Statements and

Writings, False Swearing and Influencing Witnesses in connection with the

conspiracy to alter Criterion Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) scores.

The defendants include three former high-level executive administrators

(Sharon Davis-Williams, Tamara Cotman and Michael Pitts), one former

principal (Dana Evans), one former assistant principal (Tabeeka Jordan),

two former testing coordinators (Donald Bullock and Theresia Copeland)

and four former teachers (Diane Buckner-Webb, Pamela Cleveland, Shani

Robinson and Angela Williamson (charges, verdicts and potential

penalties outlined below). Former special education teacher Dessa Curb

was acquitted of all charges.

The seven month trial followed a nearly two year investigation by the

Fulton County District Attorneys Office. The probe was prompted by a

2011 investigation initiated by the Governors Office into testing

irregularities and cheating allegations on 2008-2009 CRCT exams in

dozens of Atlanta Public Elementary schools. The District Attorneys

Office created a special unit of prosecutors and investigators to explore

potential criminal activity connected with the allegations. The investigation

included a review of testing activity associated with dozens of APS schools

as well as hundreds of interviews with school administrators, staff, parents

and students. The investigation uncovered more than 250-thousand wrong-

to-right erasures involving 58 out of 73 (79%) schools. In March 2013, 35

educators were indicted in connection with the case including former

superintendent Beverly Hall, now deceased. 21 defendants pleaded guilty

prior to trial. One other defendant died prior to trial.

District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. calls todays verdicts a victory for

children, When we indicted this case our goal was not to make a

spectacle of the Atlanta Public School system. It was our attempt to

encourage the people in our community to stop and take an honest look

at what was happening in our schools and how changing test scores was

ultimately harming our children, says Howard. We stand here today

proud of our efforts, proud that we embarked upon a journey of truth,

regardless of how long or arduous the task. We are certain today that our

work has not been in vain.

The case was prosecuted by the Atlanta Public Schools prosecution unit led

by Deputy District Attorney Fani Willis along with Chief Senior ADA

Clint Rucker, Deputy DA Linda Dunikoski, Chief Senior ADA Brett

Pinion, Senior ADA April McConnell, Deputy DA Shondeana Morris,

Senior ADA Cynthia Cartwright, Special Assistant ADA John Floyd and

DA Investigators Johnna Griffin and Jarvis Williams.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter presided over the case.

Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.

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Verdict Overview

School Resource Team Executive Directors: 3

1. Sharon Davis-Williams (SRT-1) Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act- Guilty

2. Michael Pitts (SRT-2) Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act- Guilty

Influencing Witnesses- Guilty

3. Tamara Cotman (SRT-3) Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act- Guilty

Principals: 1

1. Dana Evans (Dobbs Elementary) Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act- Guilty

False Statements and Writings- Guilty (one count)

Assistant Principal: 1

1. Tabeeka Jordan (Deerwood Elementary) Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act- Guilty

Testing Coordinators: 2

1. Donald Bullock (Usher-Collier Heights Elementary) Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act- Guilty

False Statements and Writings- Guilty (2 counts)

False Swearing- Guilty

2. Theresia Copeland (Benteen Elementary) Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act- Guilty

False Statements and Writings- Guilty

Teachers: 4

1. Angela Williamson (Dobbs Elementary) Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act- Guilty

False Statements and Writings- Guilty (2 counts)

False Swearing- Guilty (2 counts)

2. Pamela Cleveland (Dunbar Elementary) Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act- Guilty

False Statements and Writings- Guilty (2 counts)

3. Shani Robinson (Dunbar Elementary) Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act- Guilty

False Statements and Writings- Guilty

4. Diane Buckner-Webb (Dunbar Elementary) Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act-Guilty

False Statements and Writings- Guilty (2 counts)

Charges and Sentence Ranges

Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act O.C.G.A. 16-14-4 (C)

5-20 years

False Statements and Writings O.C.G.A 16-10-20

1-5 years

False Swearing O.C.G.A. 16-10-71

1-5 years

Theft by Taking O.C.G.A. 16-8-2

1-15 years

Influencing Witnesses O.C.G.A. 16-10-93

1-5 years