Georgia superintendent indicted over alleged kickback scheme in Illinois school district
The superintendent of Georgia’s third-largest school district has been indicted on federal charges alleging he orchestrated a kickback scheme and misused public funds during his tenure at a suburban Chicago district.A federal grand jury in Chicago on Wednesday charged Devon Horton, the current superintendent of the 93,000-student DeKalb County School District, with 17 counts, including wire fraud, embezzlement, and tax evasion, according to the Associated Press.Prosecutors allege that from 2020 to 2023, Horton issued over $280,000 in contracts to companies linked to three associates and received more than $80,000 in kickbacks while serving as superintendent of the Evanston-Skokie School District 65, which serves about 5,800 K-8 students.
A network of contracts and kickbacks
The indictment names Antonio Ross, Samuel Ross, and Alfonzo Lewis, as co-defendants. Prosecutors allege the four men created shell companies to bill the Evanston-Skokie and Chicago school districts for services never rendered, collectively defrauding taxpayers of hundreds of thousands of dollars.In one instance, prosecutors say Antonio Ross, then principal of Chicago’s Hyde Park Academy High School, issued a fraudulent $10,000 contract to a Horton-controlled entity. Horton later attempted to recruit Ross to the DeKalb district, though Ross declined amid questions about their past business ties, AP reported.
District response and suspension
Following news of the indictment, the DeKalb County school board convened an emergency session Thursday, suspending Horton with pay and appointing Norman Sauce, the district’s Chief of Student Services, as acting superintendent.Board Chairperson Deirdre Pierce said district operations would “continue as normal” and reaffirmed the board’s commitment to providing “a safe, supportive, and high-quality educational experience for every student,” according to a statement cited by AP.The DeKalb board had extended Horton’s contract through 2028 in July and raised his annual salary to $360,000.
Misuse of public funds
Beyond the alleged kickback scheme, Horton faces charges that he used his district-issued purchasing card for personal meals, travel, and gift cards, amounting to more than $30,000 in unauthorized spending between 2022 and 2023.He is also accused of failing to report the illicit payments and personal expenditures on his federal income tax returns. Prosecutors said the scale of the alleged embezzlement and Horton’s status as a public official could result in a sentence exceeding ten years if convicted. Federal authorities are also seeking the forfeiture of all related funds.
Legal response and past associations
Horton’s attorney, Terry Campbell, said in a statement to AP that his client “is eager to address his case in court” and emphasized that the charges concern “conduct that is several years old” and “have nothing whatsoever to do with his very successful work on behalf of the students, families, and teachers in DeKalb County.”Under Horton’s leadership, the DeKalb district has reported improvements in attendance, graduation rates, and academic performance, Campbell added.The indictment also notes that DeKalb has hired several individuals who previously worked with Horton in Illinois and Louisville, Kentucky, underscoring his continued professional network across multiple districts.
Illinois district’s reaction
Leaders of the Evanston-Skokie School District, said in a joint statement that the district had been aware of the federal investigation and “fully supported the process” at the request of federal authorities.“We are deeply troubled and angered by these allegations,” the statement said, as reported by AP.If convicted, Horton and his co-defendants could face substantial prison time and financial penalties, marking a rare and consequential federal case involving senior K-12 administrators.