• The original investigation named 178 educators in the corruption, including 38 principals, as participants in cheating. • More than 80 confessed. • The investigators said they confirmed cheating in 44 of 56 schools they examined. • The investigators conducted more than 2,100 interviews and examined more than 800,000 documents in what is likely the most wide-ranging investigation into test-cheating in a public school district ever conducted in United States history. (Full Backstory)

In 2009 President Obama’s Education Department named the Atlanta School Superintendent in charge of the racketeering “School Superintendent of The Year”, the educational equivalent of the Nobel Prize.

• More than three dozen educators were indicted in 2013. • 21 educators pled guilty before trial. • 12 Educators and Administrators went to trial and faced felony charges. • 11 of the 12 were found guilty!

After a 5 month trial and more than eight days of jury deliberation resulting in guilty convictions for those 11 Atlanta Public School educators, teachers and administrators, the sentences came Tuesday.

In a stunning development Judge Baxter gave each of the guilty educators a chance to mitigate their sentences with a simple admission of, and acceptance of, guilt.

But the educators defied the request and failed to release themselves of the Dindu Nuffin mentality. Judge Baxter was not pleased.

[…] Baxter was not pleased. He raised his voice numerous times and shouted at attorneys. Some attorneys shouted back. At one point, one of the defense lawyers said he might move to recuse the judge and the judge retorted that he could send that attorney to jail. “Everybody starts crying about these educators. This was not a victimless crime that occurred in this city!” Baxter said. “Everybody knew cheating was going on and your client promoted it,” Baxter said to an attorney representing Atlanta Public Schools educator Sharon Davis-Williams, who Baxter sentenced to seven years in prison. Davis-Williams was ordered to perform 2,000 hours of community service and pay a $25,000 fine. Repeatedly, Baxter appeared frustrated when more educators did not simply accept the deal and plainly vocalize their guilt. “These stories are incredible. These kids can’t read,” he said. “This is the time to search your soul,” Baxter said. “It’s just taking responsibility. … No one has taken responsibility that I can see.” (read more)

And so the sentences were handed down as follows:

* Donald Bullock was first. Witnesses testified that Bullock urged them to change test answers, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The former testing coordinator was ordered to serve five years probation, six months of weekends behind bars, pay a $5,000 fine and perform 1,500 hours of community service. As part of his deal, Bullock agreed to waive his right to appeal.

* Angela Williamson, a former teacher, was ordered to serve two years in prison. She was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and perform 1,500 hours of community service.

* Pamela Cleveland, a former teacher, was ordered to serve one year home confinement, pay a $1,000 fine and perform 1,000 hours of community service. “I am guilty of the charges against me,” Cleveland said in court.

* Michael Pitts, a former schools executive, was accused of telling teachers to cheat and then telling them not to talk to Georgia Bureau of Investigators who were looking into the scandal. He was ordered to serve seven years in prison, perform 2,000 hours of community service and pay a $25,000 fine.

* Tamara Cotman, a former schools administrator, was ordered to serve seven years in prison, pay a $25,000 fine and perform 2000 hours of community service.

* Dana Evans, a former principal, was ordered to serve one year and perform 1,000 hours of community service.

*Tabeeka Jordan, former assistant principal, was ordered to serve two years in prison, perform 1,500 hours of community service and pay $5,000 fine

* Theresia Copeland, a former test coordinator, was ordered to serve one year in prison, perform 1,000 hours of community service and pay a $1,000 fine.

* Diane Buckner-Webb, a former teacher, was ordered to serve one year in prison, perform 1,000 hours of community service and pay a $1,000 fine.

Footnote: And just to show you how insanely disconnected rabid liberals are from the rest of normal society consider this:

Atl cheating teachers, shame on you, yes – but that sentence? Once again, U can do bad shit in America, just don't try it while you're black — Bill Maher (@billmaher) April 15, 2015

Moonbat Bill Maher is concerned about “excessive sentences”?

44 out of 56 schools. Thousands of students. Racketeering, fraud, lying and cheating by 178 educators. 80 confessions. 36 felony indictments. 21 pled guilty before trial.

12 chose to go to trial.

At any point in this process any of them could have stopped, admitted guilt and took a deal. They didn’t.

Then, even after being found guilty – the judge tells them an admission of guilt will bring leniency. They didn’t.

And Bill Maher is worried about the sentence?

Go figure.