Darian Wilhite, 22, and Tywana Gilford Mason, 51, have been implicated in a cheating scandal that exposed numerous unqualified teachers throughout Texas. Alongside three others, they face charges related to their involvement in the scandal.
On Monday, two additional defendants appeared before a Houston judge in relation to a significant cheating scandal involving teaching certification.
Five suspects, which include three educators from the Houston ISD, are facing charges of engaging in organized criminal activity. According to investigators, their alleged scheme resulted in over 200 unqualified teachers across Texas who possessed fraudulent certifications.
District Attorney Kim Ogg revealed that two individuals who purchased the counterfeit certification were later arrested for crimes involving children. According to Ogg, one person was charged with indecency with a child, while the other was accused of online solicitation of a minor.
According to Ogg, it was their ability to gain access through false certification that enabled them to carry out the crimes.
Darian Wilhite, aged 22, and Tywana Gilford Mason, aged 51, made their first court appearance on Monday.
Prosecutors allege that Wilhite, a proctor at TACTIX, accepted bribes to enable Nicholas Newtown, an Assistant Principal at Booker T. Washington High School, to serve as a proxy during testing. They claim that Newton, in turn, took and successfully passed numerous exams on behalf of teachers who were unable to do so themselves.
The judge has approved a reduction in Wilhite’s bond, lowering it from $75,000 to $5,000. This decision was made considering her age and the fact that she does not have a previous criminal record. Wilhite’s attorney has stated that she intends to plead not guilty.
Defense attorney Brett Podolsky expressed his thoughts on the matter, suggesting that in the best-case scenario, the victim was exploited due to her young age and lack of financial means. He also mentioned the importance of substantiating these allegations before drawing any conclusions.
Mason, the former director and VA certifying official at the Houston Training and Education Center, played a crucial role in the proxy scheme by serving as a test proctor. Thanks to her position, Mason was able to carry out the scheme without detection.
According to prosecutors, the alleged mastermind behind the scheme reportedly made a whopping $1 million.
Three employees from the Houston Independent School District (HISD), including two assistant principals and a basketball coach, appeared in court on Friday.
Vincent Grayson, the boys basketball coach at Booker T. Washington High School, has been labeled as the “kingpin” by prosecutors in relation to an alleged scheme. It is claimed that Grayson charged teachers $2,500 each to act as proxies during certification tests, allowing them to check in at testing centers while someone else took the actual exams. Prosecutors estimate that Grayson profited over $1 million from this scheme.
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- Vincent Grayson, 57, the head boys basketball coach at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston ISD. Grayson is charged as the organizer of the cheating scheme and has worked at the high school for nearly 20 years. He is charged with two counts of organized criminal activity. His bond was set at $300,000.
- Nicholas Newton, 35, is an assistant principal at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston ISD. Newton is alleged to have participated in the scheme as the proxy test-taker. He was charged with two counts of organized criminal activity. On Friday, his bond was lowered from $100,000 to $25,000 for each count.
- LaShonda Roberts, 39, is an assistant principal at Yates High School in Houston ISD. Roberts is charged with recruiting nearly 100 teachers to participate in the cheating scheme. She is charged with two counts of organized criminal activity with her bond set at $100,000 for each count.
During the court proceedings on Friday, Grayson’s attorney, Cheryl Irvin, openly acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations.
Irvin emphasized the gravity of the case, highlighting its impact on education within the community. Recognizing the close connection between a struggling education system and a struggling community, he urged everyone to share his concern and be actively engaged in finding a resolution.
According to Irvin, the court needs to carefully sift through a vast amount of information to arrive at the correct decision.
“The burden falls on the State to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. At this moment, Mr. Grayson is presumed innocent. We will patiently await the presentation of evidence that sheds light on the charges against him. Only then can we assess our next course of action,” stated Irvin.
Roberts, the assistant principal of Yates High School, is facing charges for allegedly recruiting close to 100 teachers to take part in the cheating scheme. According to Roberts’ attorney, there is a shared sentiment regarding the matter.
Defense attorney Brandon Leonard expressed skepticism towards the office’s allegations, stating that they have made similar claims in the past without substantial evidence. He emphasized that his client is presumed innocent until proven guilty and expressed anticipation for their day in court.
On Friday, an orange jumpsuit-clad Nicholas Newton, an assistant principal at Booker T. Washington, stood before the judge. It is alleged that Newton played a role in the cheating scheme by acting as a proxy test-taker.
Feroz Merchant, Newton’s attorney, was recently assigned to the case on Friday. He mentioned that he is currently awaiting additional information regarding the case.
Feroz expressed that he had a conversation with the prosecutor in charge of the case. The prosecutor has agreed to provide Feroz with all the necessary information and evidence for the case. Feroz intends to carefully review the discovery materials and determine the most suitable course of action moving forward.
If the suspects are found guilty, they could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
