The Orlando Sentinel reported that Orlando’s Elite Preparatory Academy was booted from Florida’s Department of Education’s scholarship program in November. This was after a parent questioned the school’s hiring of Ruben Saldaña as a youth MMA coach.
The Orlando Sentinel called Saldaña a ‘former gang leader’ who helped organize a ‘gang hit’ that left two men dead. He was convicted of manslaughter in 1999 and served nearly 14 years in prison. Prior to that conviction, Saldaña also served prison terms for robbery, grand theft auto, and aggravated assault.
After Elite’s principal Hong Steele stated, in a letter to the Department of Education, that Saldaña was terminated from the school on November 5th, the school was readmitted to the scholarship program.