DeKalb County Schools Chief Indicted In Illinois Kickback Scheme

DeKalb County’s school superintendent faces federal charges for allegedly running a kickback operation at his previous job that funneled more than $80,000 into his pockets while defrauding two school districts.

Why It Matters: Devon Horton still leads one of Georgia’s largest school systems while facing 17 federal counts that could send him to prison and force him to repay hundreds of thousands of dollars.

What’s Happening: A federal grand jury indicted Horton and three co-defendants in October 2025 for crimes committed between 2020 and 2023, when Horton served as superintendent of Evanston/Skokie School District 65 in Illinois.

The indictment alleges Horton approved contracts worth $283,500 to three companies owned by his friends, then received approximately $81,700 in kickback payments. He allegedly used his district credit card for thousands more in personal expenses.

The Mechanics: Prosecutors say Horton and his co-defendants created a system to hide the money trail.

Antonio Ross owned Connecting the Dots Leadership Initiative. Samuel Ross owned Asset Protection Specialist. Alfonzo Lewis owned New Flight 35 Sports & Academic Academy. All three submitted proposals to District 65 for professional services contracts.

The indictment states the men submitted invoices for services they never provided. After Horton approved payment, they allegedly kicked back portions to him, sometimes routing money through Horton’s sibling to hide the transactions.

Horton allegedly concealed contracts worth more than $25,000 from the school board, even though district policy required advance notification for contracts above that threshold.

💰 The Amounts: District 65 paid Connecting the Dots approximately $139,500. Horton allegedly received $41,900 back.

District 65 paid Asset Protection approximately $119,500. Horton allegedly received $30,800 back.

District 65 paid New Flight 35 approximately $24,500. Horton allegedly received $9,000 back.

🔄 The Reverse Scheme: The indictment describes a mirror operation at Chicago Public Schools.

Antonio Ross worked as principal of Hyde Park Academy High School. Between November 2021 and April 2022, prosecutors say Ross and Horton submitted false documents so Ross could hire Horton’s company, Altering the Education, for a $10,000 contract.

They allegedly submitted a fake invoice for services never performed. Ross approved it. Horton received approximately $10,000 in Chicago Public Schools funds.

The Cover-Up: Horton filed a Statement of Economic Interests form with the Cook County Clerk in March 2023 that allegedly omitted income from Antonio Ross and Samuel Ross.

He did not file a statement for calendar year 2023, which prosecutors say was meant to hide the kickback payments.

Horton allegedly gave his tax preparer records that underreported his income for 2022 and 2023. He filed a false 2022 tax return in April 2023 and an amended false return in May 2023. He filed a false 2023 return in August 2024.

🏫 The Employment Rules: District 65 policy prohibited employees from acting as agents of the district to acquire personal profit or gain.

The policy prohibited employees from soliciting or accepting anything of monetary value from contractors or potential contractors.

Antonio Ross allegedly concealed his secondary employment from Chicago Public Schools, even though he needed approval for outside work.

Horton allegedly concealed his work for Chicago Public Schools from District 65, even though his employment contract required disclosure of secondary employment.

💳 The Credit Card: Between January 2022 and July 2023, prosecutors say Horton used his district procurement card for personal meals, gift cards, vehicle expenses, and personal travel.

The indictment charges him with embezzling more than $5,000 in 2022 and more than $5,000 in 2023 through misuse of the card.

⚖️ The Charges: The indictment includes 13 counts of wire fraud, two counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and two counts of tax evasion.

Wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Theft from federally funded programs carries a maximum of 10 years. Tax evasion carries a maximum of five years.

Prosecutors seek forfeiture of at least $293,500 related to the fraud charges and at least $30,845.77 related to the theft charges.

👥 The Co-Defendants: Antonio Ross faces 10 counts. Samuel Ross faces four counts. Alfonzo Lewis faces four counts.

Antonio Ross worked as principal of Hyde Park Academy High School. Samuel Ross and Alfonzo Lewis worked at Hyde Park Academy. Lewis served as athletic director.

📅 The Timeline: The scheme began in August 2020 and continued through June 2023.

Horton lived in the Northern District of Illinois between June 2020 and June 2023. He owned Altering the Education, an Illinois company based in Evanston.

🔎 Between the Lines: The indictment identifies Individual A as Horton’s sibling, Individual B as his executive assistant at District 65, and Individual C as the purchasing agent for District 65.

Prosecutors say Horton directed Antonio Ross and Alfonzo Lewis to transfer some kickback payments to his sibling’s bank account. He then directed his sibling to transfer those funds to him.

The Sources: United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.