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 wrongto-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