Barbara Byrd-Bennett pleads guilty in kickback scheme, says ‘nobody to blame but me’

While running the nation’s third-largest school district, Byrd-Bennett steered a $23 million no-bid contract to her former employer, education consulting firm SUPES Academy, in exchange for bribes and kickbacks. Bribes included a college fund for her grandchildren, federal prosecutors said.

She later released the full statement through her attorney: Today I pled guilty to federal crimes I committed while CEO of the Chicago Public Schools. The people of Chicago as well as CPS, its teachers, staff, and-most especially, its students-deserved more and better from me.
There is nobody to blame but me, and my failings could not have come at a time of greater challenges for CPS. The issues CPS faces are significant, and the City needs-and the children deserve-leaders who are working without conflicts of interest.

I have devoted my entire professional life to public education and, while there is no excusing or downplaying my misconduct, I believe I have done a lot of good, including in Chicago. Today, though, all I can say is that I am truly sorry and that it is time for the District and City to move forward.

Byrd-Bennett’s court appearance on Tuesday was her first since being indicted October 8. She was never arrested.

Facing 20 fraud counts, each of which carried a maximum 20-year prison term, Byrd-Bennett pleaded guilty to only one count under the agreement; the others were dismissed. The government will also ask for a lighter sentence in exchange for Byrd-Bennett’s cooperation in other unnamed cases, according to the deal.