The educators were charged for racketeering, making false statements and improperly influencing witnesses in the completion of an investigation that began back in 2009 when reports of large-scale erasing of test answers reached state oversight authorities.
At the center of the cheating scandal is former superintendent Beverly Hall. Authorities contend that Hall won the National Superintendent of the Year award in 2009 by the American Association of School Administrators in large part because of the much-improved test score results.
Hall maintains her innocence. But the grand jury suggest a bond of $7.5 million. If convicted in the case on all charges, Hall faces 45 years in prison.
“What we’ve charged is a conspiracy, and the conspirators carried out different parts of this conspiracy,” said Fulton County district attorney, adding that the panel investigated for 21 months.
Some of the defendants’ attorneys told the press that the bail is cruel and unusual punishment.
Warren Fortson, for example, represents 56-year-old Theresia Copeland, who was given $1 million bail. He told the Atlanta Journal-Constition that “I think that this whole thing has turned into something rather ridiculous,” he said. “They didn’t treat Al Capone like this.”
