CHICAGO — A former vice chancellor for City Colleges of Chicago has been sentenced to five and a half years in federal prison for devising and engaging in a procurement fraud scheme.
SHAROD GORDON was employed by City Colleges of Chicago in a variety of leadership roles, most recently as the Vice Chancellor of Legislative and Community Affairs. From 2013 to 2017, Gordon obtained kickbacks from vendor-companies in exchange for steering them City Colleges contracts for community canvassing and flyer distribution services. Some of the companies were formed by Gordon’s City Colleges colleagues and other friends for the sole purpose of applying for the contracts. In some instances, the work was never performed – even though the companies submitted invoices that caused City Colleges to pay out nearly $350,000. Upon receipt of the payments, Gordon directed representatives of the companies to give him a portion of the money.
Gordon, 47, of Oak Park, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to a federal wire fraud charge. U.S. District Judge Robert M. Dow, Jr., on Wednesday imposed a 66-month prison sentence.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Office of Inspector General for the City Colleges of Chicago provided substantial assistance in the investigation.
“Sharod Gordon abused the public trust for personal profit,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan DeMarco argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant used his government position to deprive underserved college students of honest services in order to line his own pocket.”
Seven other defendants were charged with participating in the fraud scheme.
