Five people in Texas have been charged for organizing and participating in an illegal cheating scheme that helped over 200 unqualified teachers get certified. The scheme involved paying a proxy to take certification tests at two Houston testing centers, allowing candidates to switch places with the proxy and cheat on the exams. The alleged ringleader, Vincent Grayson, made over $1 million from the scheme. The cheating was exposed in mid-2023 when teachers who repeatedly failed exams suddenly started passing with high scores, leading to an investigation by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The scheme involved bribing a testing official, paying proxies to take exams, and making payments via Zelle and CashApp. The five defendants made significant profits from cheating teachers, and hundreds of exams were taken fraudulently. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. The Houston Independent School District, where some defendants worked, is cooperating with law enforcement and TEA. Any teachers found to have fraudulently obtained certification will face consequences, including potential termination. The scheme also involved at least two teachers who were later charged with crimes related to minors. The defendants are facing felony charges of engaging in organized criminal activity, with some already arrested, while others have retained attorneys.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
