1
Filename: A1-MAIN-AJCD0402-2TWO Date/Time created: Apr 2 2015 12:12:01:743AM Username: SPEEDDRIVER12 Thursday, Apr 02, 2015 MAIN 1A 2DOT 1A Cyan Magenta Yellow Black 1A Cyan Magenta Yellow Black 2DOT File name: A1-MAIN-AJCD0402-2TWO Date/Time created: Apr 2 2015 12:12:01:743AM Username: SPEEDDRIVER12 2DOT By Andria Simmons [email protected] Georgia lawmakers were lauded on some sides and lam- basted on others Wednesday after passing a massive trans- portation funding bill that would raise close to $1 billion a year. House Bill 170 would lift the gas tax for the average driv- er by about 6 cents a gallon. It would impose new fees on ho- tel stays, electric vehicles and heavy trucks. And it would eliminate lucrative tax breaks for Delta Air Lines and electric vehicle owners. Transportation gets billion-dollar boost Roads continued on A7 AJC AT THE GOLD DOME MORE INSIDE » Sine die: See what’s at stake today, A6-7 » Kill the bill: Read our editorial on religious freedom, A16 Showers High: 72, Low: 59 60% chance of rain Friday: Partly cloudy, 79/58 Saturday: Partly cloudy, 64/49 Sunday: Mostly sunny, 67/42 Details on the back of Metro THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015 Dear Abby D3 Classifieds D6 Comics D8 Obituaries B6 Peach Buzz D2 Puzzles D3 Television D2 The Vent B2 ©2015 AJC, VOL. 67, NO. 92 PRINTED WITH SOY INK ON RECYCLED PAPER Racketeering charge is a powerful weapon By Bill Rankin [email protected] When the state brought rack- eteering charges against Atlan- ta Public Schools employees for cheating on tests and then cov- ering it up, criminal defense at- torneys said it was overkill. Teachers, principals ... rack- eteers? On Wednesday, however, ju- rors unanimously agreed that 11 of the 12 former educators on trial were guilty of engaging in a racketeering conspiracy. The federal racketeering law — called RICO, for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations — was enacted in 1970 to fight corruption and organized crime. But Georgia’s law, passed in 1980, has been used by state prosecutors as a hammer against gang leaders, public corruption, even an Racketeering continued on A13 THE VERDICT APS TEST-CHEATING SCANDAL 11 GUILTYVERDICTS 1 Elementary school teacher is the only educator cleared of all charges. 10 Convicted sent straight to jail; pregnant defendant remains free for now. 20 Years in prison faced by each educator on racketeering charges. Tamara Cotman is led to a holding cell after a jury convicted her of racketeering charges. Wednesday’s verdicts are a final chapter in what be- gan in 2008, when The Atlanta Journal-Constitution broke the first of several stories highlighting suspect APS test scores. KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC By Rhonda Cook [email protected] Ty Tagami [email protected] and Mark Niesse [email protected] After considering nearly five months of testimony, a Fulton County jury convicted all but one of the dozen former At- lanta teachers and administra- tors on trial in the largest test- cheating scandal in the nation. On Wednesday afternoon, 10 former teachers and school administrators were hand- cuffed and taken to jail, where they will await sentencing, perhaps to decades in prison. The 11th was at home, waiting to give birth. Only Dessa Curb, a former teacher, walked out of the courthouse a free woman. “I knew God had my back,” she said. In total, 32 former educa- tors were convicted, counting the 21 who pleaded guilty to lesser charges before the tri- al’s start last year. Two others, including former Superinten- dent Beverly Hall, died of can- cer before they could be tried. The case capped what began in 2008 when The Atlanta Journal-Constitution broke the first of several stories highlighting suspect Educators to learn sentences next week Verdicts continued on A9 Watch as AJC editor Kevin Riley explains the verdicts and what they say about our city – and our school system. See our photos from the courthouse and view the mug shots of those who were booked into jail Wednesday. 5 pages inside today: A8, A9, A10, A12, A13 TURN INSIDE ■ Learn more about the only defendant to be cleared, A12 READ SUNDAY’S PAPER ■ We revisit how we got here, from the first hint of scandal to the verdict. 42:240PM Username:SPEEDDRIVER07 APS CHEATING SCANDAL The story so far Suspicious scores 2008 2009 Parents: Guilty verdicts send message Some decry harsh charges; others say justice was served. The 12 defendants, other figures in APS cheating case TAMARA COTMAN SHARON DAVIS- WILLIAMS MICHAEL PITTS DANA EVANS TABEEKA JORDAN DONALD BULLOCK THERESIA COPELAND DIANE BUCKNER- WEBB PAMELA CLEVELAND DESSA CURB SHANI ROBINSON ANGELA WILLIAMSON
