Texas authorities revealed that they have uncovered a massive teacher certification cheating ring. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced on Monday, Oct. 28, the arrests of several individuals in connection with an approximately $1 million alleged scheme involving hundreds of people taking false exams, and at least 200 teachers instructing students across the state with fraudulent credentials.
Ogg said on Monday, “Today, five people have been charged with two counts each of engaging in organized criminal activity, and all face first or third-degree felony charges that can carry sentences ranging from two years to life imprisonment.”
Three of the people charged with the alleged scheme worked at Houston Independent School District, including two assistant principals and a high school basketball coach.
Investigators said that the basketball coach was the ringleader and made around a million dollars, charging $2,500 for each certificate, and sometimes more.
Ogg revealed how the alleged crime took place during her press conference Monday, saying, “They are accused of running a fraudulent teacher certification testing scheme right here in Houston that utilized a test-taking proxy or teacher impersonator to take the test along with a corrupt testing proctor to allow the switch between the applicant and the proxy test-taker.”
She said alleged sexual predators even used their wrongfully gained employment within schools to commit crimes against children. Ogg revealed that at least two of the people who allegedly paid to have fake certifications were charged with indecency and online solicitation of a child.
Houston Independent School District said it was unaware of the scheme until shortly before the arrests and all employees implicated in the charges were placed on leave. The district added that it working in cooperation with the investigation, and that if any teachers working in the district are discovered to be part of the alleged scheme that they will be fired.
