Dive Brief:
- Judge Jerry Baxter has re-sentenced the three educators who received the harshest punishments in the Atlanta cheating scandal.
- Sharon Davis-Williams, Tamara Cotman, and Michael Pitts will still have to serve seven years in prison, but Baxter reduced their post-prison probation from 13 years to seven years.
- The three were sentenced earlier in April for the violation of the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO); however, Baxter changed the sentence saying he was "not comfortable" with his original punishment.
Dive Insight:
The Atlanta cheating scandal shocked many, not only because of its far reach, but also because of the unprecedented ultimate sentences. RICO is typically reserved for cases with organized crime and carries a minimum sentence of 20-years.