ATLANTA (WXIA) – Monday was a day almost six years in the making – the beginning of the end for the Atlanta Public Schools cheating trial. Closing arguments began on Monday.
It is up to the state to prove to the jury that the 12 defendants were part of a criminal enterprise, much in the same way as an organized crime conspiracy.
Actually, the racketeering charges against them were created to go after mobsters – that's one thing that makes this case different from any other prosecuted in the state.
At six months, already, this marks one of the longest trials in the state's history, including in federal court. It has one of the largest group of defendants tied together as well.
There is a lot of pressure on the prosecution, which has the burden of proof in this case to get convictions, not only on the racketeering, but on all the other charges.
There are a total of 122 "predicate acts" in all.
Two prosecutors spent near three and a half hours of their allocated five hours for their closing arguments – going over everything they've presented through evidence and 133 witnesses.
"They hijacked APS," said assistant prosecutor John Floyd. "They turned it from its lawful, legitimate purpose, into something where people cheated to get money. People cheated to get fame, to get recognition and the children got left behind.
"This case is garbage," said Keith Adams, lawyer for one of the defendants, Diane Buckner-Webb. "It's a RICO case that means nothing."
For nearly three and a half hours, the state recounted for the jury, six months of testimony and evidence from some 133 witnesses, with the conclusion.
"Thousands of black kids," prosecutor Clint Rucker said. "I'm talking about thousands of our children, were robbed of the opportunity to get a quality education."
Rucker broke it all down to the "four Cs" – Create, Change, Cover-up and Cash.
Once the state finished, attorneys for the defendants tried to punch holes in the prosecutor's argument.
"That's trash," said Adams. "She did not, will not, will never do it. Because you can say you're guilty to get what they want to give you. Come in, testify, and you're out of here. But there's a price. It's your soul."
The scandal dates back seven years – to 2008, after a dozen schools posted high gains over the previous year's standardized tests.
In 2009, a state investigation found "overwhelming" evidence of cheating at several schools. Then-superintendent Beverly Hall denied the accusations.
In 2010, a bi-partisan blue ribbon commission found "severe to moderate levels of cheating at dozens of Atlanta elementary schools.
In July, 2011, an investigation by the governor's office uncovered widespread problems.
In March, 2013, criminal indictments were issued for 35 APS employees, including Hall.
Twenty-one of those defendants reached plea deals, one of them passed away. And two weeks ago, Hall, herself, died from breast cancer.
