DeKalb School Superintendent Horton indicted in Illinois for alleged kickbacks

Dr. Devon Horton, Superintendent of the DeKalb County (Ga.) School District, was indicted Thursday on 17 federal charges of wire fraud, embezzlement and tax fraud in Illinois, where he worked as a school superintendent from 2020 to 2023.

"Effective immediately, Dr. Horton has been placed on paid administrative leave," the DeKalb County Board of Education said in a statement. "The Board of Education has appointed Dr. Norman C. Sauce III, Chief of Student Services, to serve as Acting Superintendent." 

The indictment alleges Horton received thousands of dollars in kickbacks from District 65 contracts he awarded to companies he was involved in, the Evanston Roundtable reported. 

"Three men described in the document as his friends: Antonio Ross, Samuel Ross and Alfonzo Lewis were also indicted. The indictment charges the four men took kickbacks from businesses they owned that made contracts with District 65 and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) without disclosing their involvement or financial stake," the Illinois online newspaper said.

The indictment claims the four men “made materially false and fraudulent representations” to make it appear that Horton did not have financial stake or involvement in the companies he awarded District 65 contracts to, the Evanston Roundtable said.