[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [CRIME]

2 clusters · 2 sources · 6 days · First seen · Last updated

Devon Horton federal fraud case

Overview

Devon Horton, the former superintendent of Evanston/Skokie School District 65, has been involved in a federal fraud case concerning a kickback scheme that operated between January 2022 and August 2024.

Initially, Horton was expected to enter a plea agreement following a federal indictment on 17 counts, including embezzlement, wire fraud, and tax fraud. Prosecutors alleged that Horton and co-defendants used fake service contracts to divert funds from District 65 and Chicago Public Schools. One co-defendant, Samuel Ross, had previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and agreed to cooperate with the government.

Following these developments, Horton pleaded guilty to three federal charges: embezzlement, wire fraud, and tax fraud. He faces a potential prison sentence of seven to nine years if he is deemed to have taken appropriate responsibility, or between 10 and 12 years otherwise. Sentencing is scheduled for January 5.

Entities

Samuel Ross · Chicago Public Schools · Devon Horton · U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois · U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois

Timeline

  1. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Devon Horton pleads guilty to fraud and embezzlement charges

    Former District 65 Superintendent Devon Horton pleaded guilty to embezzlement, wire fraud, and tax fraud involving a kickback scheme with Chicago Public Schools.

  2. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Devon Horton to enter plea deal in federal fraud case

    Former District 65 superintendent Devon Horton will enter a plea deal next week following a federal indictment involving an alleged kickback and embezzlement scheme.

Sources

dailynorthwestern.com · evanstonroundtable.com