http://www.local10.com/news/4868830/detail.html August 19, 2005 MIAMI -- Two former Florida Memorial University employees and five students are charged in a grade-changing racket that involves cash payments, computer hacking and even sexual favors. According to court records, Ellis Peet and Clifton Franklin were paid $100 to $150 to change a single grade. They're accused of changing more than 600 grades for 122 students at FMU (until recently known as Florida Memorial College). One female student also allegedly had sex with Franklin in exchange for changed grades. "Apparently, she didn't have the financial means to pay for the grade change. So instead, they worked out a sexual agreement," said Mary Walters of the Miami-Dade County Police Department. Peet was a computer technician in the registrar's office and Franklin was a data entry clerk. Peet was fired and Franklin resigned during the investigation. School officials said Peet and Franklin were fraternity brothers and they acted on their own to organize the scheme. Officials said that they also believe that Peet and Franklin changed their own grades while attending the school. Peet's attorney says his client has pleaded not guilty to racketeering and violating intellectual property and computer access laws. Franklin faces identical charges but hasn't yet been located by police. Police say three of the five students who acted as middlemen have been arrested and charged with racketeering. Officials said that Peet and Franklin allegedly used generic passwords or those belonging to other registrar employees to make the switches. The five students are accused of conspiring to recruit other students who wanted their grades changed, and receiving cash payments for the switches and kickbacks from Peet in the process, court records showed. Pinkston, the school's director of governmental and public affairs, said the school has taken several safeguards to prevent a repeat of the scheme, including a mandatory change in passwords every 40 days, and the elimination of generic passwords. Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. _________________________________________ Attend ToorCon Sept 16-18th, 2005 Convention Center San Diego, California www.toorcon.org
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