Atlanta cheating scandal teachers go to cells in hand-cuffs: Eleven educators face up to 20 years in prison for inflating their students' test scores to get bonus money for their schools . . . and for themselves 

• e-mail

In one of the biggest cheating scandals of its kind in the U.S., 11 former Atlanta public school educators were convicted Wednesday of racketeering for their role in a scheme to inflate students' scores on standardized exams.

The defendants - including teachers, a principal and other administrators - were accused of falsifying test results to collect bonuses or keep their jobs in the 50,000-student Atlanta school system. 

The educators fed answers to students or erased and changed the answers on tests after they were turned in to secure promotions or up to $5,000 each in bonuses, the court was told.

However the person accused of benefiting the most from the conspiracy, Superintendent Beverly Hall - who is thought to have received up to $500,000 in bonus payouts - died of breast cancer over the course of the trial.

A 12th defendant, a teacher, was acquitted of all charges by the jury this week.

The 11 will all be sentenced on April 8 and could face up to 20 years in prison for the racketeering charges.

They were all found guilty under the the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, which is typically reserved for major mobsters and organized crime bosses. 

Scroll down for video 

Convicted: Donald Bullock, left, former Atlanta Public Schools Usher-Collier Heights Elementary testing coordinator, is led to a holding cell after a jury found him guilty in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating trial

Cheating: During the trial prosecutors accused a dozen former teachers, principals and administrators of erasing incorrect answers or instructing students to change their answers to secure promotions and cash bonuses in 2009. Seen here is Former Atlanta Public Schools school research team director Tamara Cotman

Jail: Former Deerwood Academy assistant principal Tabeeka Jordan is led to a holding cell after the verdict. One principal was accused of wearing gloves as they erased test score answers and filled in new ones

'This is a huge story and absolutely the biggest development in American education law since forever,' said University of Georgia law professor Ron Carlson. 

'It has to send a message to educators here and broadly across the nation. Playing with student test scores is very, very dangerous business.'

The case stems from an investigation carried out in 2011, which uncovered evidence that the educators gave answers to students or changed answers on tests after they were turned in.

Evidence of cheating was found in 44 schools, with nearly 180 educators involved, and investigators found teachers who tried to report it faced retaliation.

The cheating is believed to date back to 2001, when scores on statewide skills tests began to turn around in the 50,000-student school district.

Between 2005 and 2009, test answers were altered and falsely certified, according to the 2013 indictment.

According to Governing.com, most educators' bonuses didn't exceed a total of $5,000 between 2005 and 2009.

A grand jury indicted 35 educators in March 2013 on charges including racketeering, false statements and theft. 

Many reached plea agreements, serve between 250 and 1,000 hours of community service, repay between $500 and $5,000 in bonus money and complete up to two years of probation.

Others testified at the trial against their co-conspirators. 

However, Superintendent Beverly Hall never went to trial, successfully arguing she was too sick to mount a defense. She died last month of breast cancer. 

Judge: Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter addresses the jury as he releases them from service after they found 11 former Atlanta Public Schools educators guilty on racketeering charges

Guilty: Defense attorney Robert Rubin, left, talks with his client, former Dobbs Elementary principal Dana Evans, center, before she is led to a holding cell after a jury found her guilty 

Guilty: Former Atlanta Public Schools school research team director Michael Pitts, right.  The jury reached its verdict on the eighth day of deliberations in a case that ensnared nationally prominent leaders

Emotional: Donald Bullock, left, former Atlanta Public Schools Usher-Collier Heights Elementary testing coordinator, reacts as a jury finds him guilty. He is now facing 20 years in prison

Hall insisted she was innocent and had no part in any cheating. 

But, the educators said she was among those pressuring them to inflate students' scores to show gains in achievement — which were needed to meet federal benchmarks tied to extra funding.

Hall, who served as superintendent for more than a decade, which is rare for an urban schools chief, was named Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators in 2009 and was credited with raising student test scores and graduation rates. 

The investigation found that Hall 'created a culture of fear, intimidation and retaliation' during her time as Superintendent.

It also found that she had permitted 'cheating — at all levels — to go unchecked for years'.

Investigators believe she may have accepted up to $500,000 in bonus payouts as a result of the ongoing cheating scandal. 

ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHEATING SCANDALS IN U.S. TEACHING HISTORY

In 2008, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution published a series of articles that questioned the veracity of test scores across the Atlanta school school system, which has 50,000 students

The newspaper contended the scores were statistically improbable

Gov. Sonny Perdue subsequently launched an investigation, which concluded in June 2011

It found at least 44 schools were guilty of cheating, dating back to 2005

Educators fed answers to students or erased and changed answers on tests after they were turned in

Created a culture of fear: Superintendent Beverly L. Hall was the alleged ringleader of the cheating scandal, but denied any involvement

One principal wore gloves as she erased and changed the answers

Nearly 180 employees, including 38 principals, were accused of wrongdoing

The report said Superintendent Beverly L. Hall (right) had 'created a culture of fear, intimidation and retaliation' that had permitted 'cheating — at all levels — to go unchecked for years'

The cheating allowed educators to collect bonuses and improve the ailing reputation of the Atlanta school system, the investigation found

It allowed them to accept bonuses of up to $5,000 each, however Dr Hall is believed to have accepted up to $500,000 

In March 2013, Dr Hall and 34 educators were indicted by a grand jury on charges including racketeering, making false statements and theft

21 of the educators plead guilty to reach plea agreements

They received between 250 and 1,000 hours of community service and must repay their bonuses

12 educators chose to stand trial

The trail started in August 2014

Dr Hall did not stand trial or accept a plea, claiming she was too sick

She died of breast cancer in March 2015

Prosecutors said the 12 were looking out for themselves rather than their students

On Wednesday, only one of the 12 educators were acquitted

The 11 educators - teachers, a principal and other administrators - were found guilty

They will be sentenced April 8

The racketeering charges carry up to 20 years in prison

source: AP, The New York Times

Former Benteen Elementary testing coordinator Theresia Copeland, left, is supported by her defense attorney Ryan Walsh, listens as a jury finds her guilty and Former Dunbar Elementary teacher Diane Buckner-Webb, center, stands with her defense attorney Kevin Franks after a jury found her guilty

Guilty: Former Atlanta Public Schools school research team director Sharon Davis Williams, left, as the verdict is read in the trial, Wednesday, April 1, 2015, in Atlanta. Defense attorneys argued that there was no conspiracy and that prosecutors had pressured educators to testify against their former colleagues

Guilty: Former Deerwood Academy assistant principal Tabeeka Jordan, left, stands with her defense attorney Akil Secret after a jury found her guilty

Former Dobbs Elementary teacher Angela Williamson, left, and her defense attorney Gerald Griggs stand as the verdict was read. Williamson and 10 other former Atlanta Public Schools educators were accused of participating in test cheating

In a video message to schools staff before she retired, Hall warned that the state investigation launched by former Gov. Sonny Perdue would likely reveal 'alarming' behavior'.

Hall said: 'There is simply no excuse for unethical behavior and no room in this district for unethical conduct.' 

Defense attorneys argued those convicted should remain free until sentencing because they don't have prior records, have community ties and showed up to trial every day. 

Yet, only one was allowed to remain free on bond — teacher Shani Robinson — because she is expecting to give birth soon.

The jury reached its verdict on the eighth day of deliberations.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter said: 'They are convicted felons as far as I'm concerned. They have made their bed and they're going to have to lie in it.'

Overcome: Former Dunbar Elementary teacher Pamela Cleveland, second from right, gets a hug from her defense attorney Angela Johnson, right, as she led to a holding cell after a jury found her guilty 

Distraught: Former Dobbs Elementary prinprincipal Dana Evans, center right, hugs her defense attorney Robert Rubin after a jury found her guilty. 'I'm devastated,' Rubin said of the verdict

Verdict: Defense attorney Annette Greene reacts as the verdict is read for her client former Dunbar Elementary teacher Shani Robinson. Robinson and 10 other former Atlanta Public Schools educators were convicted for their part in a test cheating conspiracy that drew nationwide attention

Prosecutors said the 12 former educators on trial were looking out for themselves, seeking bonuses for higher test scores rather than worrying about the education of their students.

Defense attorneys argued that their clients were caught up in an overly broad prosecution that overreached in charging them with violating racketeering laws most often used for organized crime.

The months-long trial began in August with more than six weeks of jury selection, and testimony concluded in late February. 

The criminal investigation by the Fulton County district attorney's office lasted nearly two years. 

It only came to light after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in 2008 that some test scores were statistically improbable.

Legal team: Fulton County Senior Assistant District Attorney Clint Rucker, right, hugs Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard. Eleven of the 12 defendants left the courtroom in handcuffs

District Attorney Paul Howard said it was the biggest and most complex case his office had ever handled. 

It lasted nearly two years and involved hundreds of interviews with school administrators, staff, parents and students.

'Our entire effort in this case was simply to get our community to stop and take a look at the education system,' Howard said.

Dessa Curb, a former elementary school teacher, was the one educator acquitted of all charges.

'I've prayed and I believed that this would be my outcome,' said a dazed-looking Curb, tears in her eyes.

Not guilty: Former Dobbs Elementary teacher Dessa Curb, left, with her attorney Sanford Wallack and her sister Aleesa Williams, leave the Fulton County Courthouse after a jury found her not guilty in the case