Milwaukee: Former School Board President Convicted of Accepting Bribes from Charter Operator
Former Milwaukee School Board President Michael Bonds was convicted of accepting bribes to help a Philadelphia charter school operator.
As part of an agreement with prosecutors, Bonds, 60, pleaded guilty to two counts in federal court in Philadelphia. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $500,000 fine at his sentencing, tentatively set for September, but which will depend on when he completes his pledged cooperation with an ongoing federal investigation…
Bonds served on the MPS board from 2007 until he abruptly resigned in July 2018, nine months before his term was to end.
He was charged last month with conspiracy and violations of the Travel Act for taking kickbacks in return for votes beneficial to Universal Cos. between 2014 and 2016. Two unnamed Universal executives were implicated in the scheme but have not been charged.
Veteran Milwaukee journalist Alan Borsuk described the affair as “a scandal with few rivals in the recent history of Milwaukee education.” He sums up the details.
Universal Academy. Universal came into Milwaukee riding some celebrity appeal — its founder, CONTINUE READING: Milwaukee: Former School Board President Convicted of Accepting Bribes from Charter Operator | Diane Ravitch's blog
