MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - A federal grand jury has indicted a Memphis man who was allegedly paid to have stand-ins take the certification tests for Mid-South teachers.
At a news conference Tuesday, July 10, U.S. Attorney Edward Stanton, III stated, "This indictment charges crimes that strike at the core of our society."
According to the indictment, the scam ran from 1995 to March 2010. 58-year-old Clarence Mumford is accused of charging aspiring teachers in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas $1,500 to $3,000 per test to have stand-ins take the Praxis certification for them.
"Mumford has created an atmosphere where teachers who are not only unqualified, but who also gained credentials by fraud, stand in front of children everyday," Stanton said. "It stains the fabric of our educational system."
Mumford, who was once the Assistant Principal at Humes Middle School, made tens of thousands of dollars as ringleader of the scheme, the indictment states.
In the 45-count indictment, Mumford is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, document fraud and wire fraud. The indictment does not identify nor say how many teachers were involved.
