Attorney General Ken Paxton Announces Charges Against Participants in “Pay-to-Pass” Scheme to Fraudulently Obtain Texas Teacher Certifications

A Harris County grand jury has returned indictments against five people involved in a scheme to help unqualified people fraudulently obtain Texas teacher certifications. This work allowed aspiring teachers, who could not pass the Texas Education Agency (TEA) licensure exams on their own, to falsely receive passing points.

Those charged include Vincent Grayson, 57, who is accused of orchestrating the scheme; Nicolas Newton, 35, Tywana Gilford Mason, 51, Darian Wilhite, 22, and LaShonda Roberts, 39. Each defendant is charged with two felony counts of engaging in organized criminal activity. The defendants face up to 20 years in prison for their work in the scheme.

The job involved student teachers paying Grayson to arrange for Newton to complete TEA licensing exams on their behalf. Candidates would enter a testing center, hand over their identification to a cooperative employee, and leave while Newton administered tests instead, allowing people to falsely obtain a certificate.

The investigation was conducted by Attorney General Paxton’s Criminal Investigation Division, in cooperation with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and the Texas Education Agency.