Men Charged With Changing College Grades For Cash, Sex

University Employees, Students Charged In Alleged Grade-Changing Racket

POSTED: 3:46 pm EDT August 18, 2005

UPDATED: 9:00 am EDT 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.

PICTURES: Suspect, School, Police

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.

VIDEO: Watch Local 10's Mel Taylor's Report "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.

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