US EditionEx-LAUSD Employee, Tech Vendor Charged In $22M Contracting Scheme
The scheme involved steering $22 million in contracts to a Texas company and laundering $3 million back to a former LAUSD manager, officials said.
- On Thursday, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced felony charges against former Los Angeles Unified School District manager Hong Grace Peng and vendor Gautham Sampath for an alleged $22 million pay-to-play contracting scheme.
- Prosecutors allege that between 2018 and 2022, Peng steered contracts for the district's My Integrated Student Information System to Sampath's company, Innive, while Sampath laundered over $3 million back to Peng through intermediaries.
- Text messages show Peng discussing methods to hide the money, noting, "We need to come up with lot of companies... at least 3-4 to take out the money." Another message stated, "I broke all law for you already lol."
- Both defendants face up to seven years in county jail if convicted. Arrest warrants have been issued for Peng and extradition warrants for Sampath, who resides in Flower Mound, Texas.
- Officials urge organizations with contracts involving Innive to contact the Public Integrity Division at 257-2475. Investigators describe the scheme as one of the largest money-laundering scandals in the district's history.
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LA United School District scandal leads to charges as $22M scheme allegedly drained funds meant for students | Fox Wilmington WSFX-TV
close Video Los Angeles DA details evidence in alleged $22M school contract scheme District Attorney of LA County Nathan Hochman says the scheme funneled more than $22 million in taxpayer-funded school contracts to a private firm. (Credit: Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office) NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A former Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) IT employee and a tech company owner are facing felony charges…
LA United School District scandal leads to charges as $22M scheme allegedly drained funds meant for students
A former LA United School District employee and a tech firm owner face felony charges in an alleged $22 million pay-to-play money laundering scheme, prosecutors say.
LA school district ex-employee and vendor accused of $22 million taxpayer pay-to-play scheme
A former Los Angeles Unified School District employee and the owner of a technology vendor were charged Thursday for their alleged involvement in a $22 million kickback scheme that funneled taxpayer funds away from classrooms and into their own pockets. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced charges against Hong "Grace" Peng, 53, of Pasadena, and Gautham Sampath, 53, of Flower Mound, Texas.'This case involves a blatant abuse…
Hastings Tribune
$22 million siphoned from LAUSD in record-setting scam, D.A. says
LOS ANGELES — "I broke all law for you already lol," an L.A. Unified employee allegedly texted to a co-conspirator amid what prosecutors say is the largest money-laundering scheme in the school district's history.
Former LA school district employee charged in MASSIVE money laundering scheme · American Wire News
A former Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) employee is facing felony charges for her role in a $22 million money laundering and fraud scheme involving funneling contracts to a Texas-based vendor. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office alleges that Hong “Grace” Peng, a Pasadena woman who worked as an LAUSD technical project manager, illegally awarded contracts to Innive, a company owned by Gautham Sampath, who was also charge…
Ex-LAUSD employee and vendor charged in alleged $22M contract scheme
A former Los Angeles Unified School District information technology employee and the owner of a technology vendor were charged in a scheme that directed about $22 million in district contracts to the vendor, county prosecutors said. Hong “Grace” Peng, 53, of Pasadena, was charged with one felony count each of money laundering and having a financial interest in a contract...
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