Crime in Harris County: Criminal Charges in Massive Teacher Certification Fraud

Harris County, Texas – In a shocking statement on Monday Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg revealed criminal charges against five people accused of organizing an illegal cheating scheme that may have awarded undeserved certificates to as many as 400 teachers across Texas.

According to Mike Levine, head of the DA Office’s Public Corruption Unit, the ringleader of the operation earned more than $1 million through this elaborate scheme.

Persons charged:

Vincent Grayson, 57: Head boys basketball coach at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston ISD. Grayson is accused of organizing the fraud.
Tywana Gilford Mason, 51: Former director and VA certifying officer at the Houston Training and Education Center. Mason allegedly used her position as a test supervisor to conceal the proxy program.
Nicholas Newton, 35: Assistant principal at Booker T. Washington High School. Newton is accused of participating in the scheme by acting as the examinee’s agent.
Darian Nikole Wilhite, 22: Promoter at TACTIX who allegedly accepted bribes to allow Newton to act as a testing attorney.
LaShonda Roberts, 39: Assistant principal at Yates High School. Roberts is accused of recruiting nearly 100 teachers to participate in the fraud.

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All five defendants were charged with two counts of participating in organized criminal activity.