Courtroom sketch of Barbara Byrd-Bennett pleading and crying in front of U.S. District Judge Edmond Chang. (Thomas Gianni)

Former SUPES co-owner Thomas Vranas receives 18-month sentence

The disgraced former Chicago Public Schools CEO will spend 54 months in prison after a federal judge sentenced her Friday for the yearslong kickback scheme she ran while chief of the cash-strapped district.

Thomas Vranas, a former co-owner of SUPES Academy, admitted in federal court Tuesday to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. The plea deal comes with an agreement to cooperate with the U.S. Attorney's office.