Memphis test fraud ringleader gets 7 years
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – A federal judge in Memphis has sentenced a longtime Memphis educator to seven years in prison in a test-taking fraud scheme.
Clarence Mumford Sr. pleaded guilty in February to leading a 15-year scheme that helped teachers cheat on qualification exams. The passing scores were then used to help people get jobs in public schools.
Prosecutors say teachers in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas paid Mumford $1,500 to more than $3,000 to have ringers take the Praxis certification tests for them.
The 59-year-old Mumford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail, wire, identification and Social Security fraud and one charge of aggravated identity theft.
In pronouncing sentence Monday, U.S. District Court Judge John Fowlkes also ordered three years of probation and ordered Mumford to pay $167,000 in restitution.
