Overview

• An Illinois federal grand jury charged Horton with 17 counts, including wire fraud, embezzlement and tax evasion tied to his 2020–2023 tenure at District 65.
• Prosecutors say more than $283,500 in District 65 contracts flowed to companies linked to friends who funneled payments to Horton through a sibling’s bank account.
• Three alleged co‑conspirators — Antonio Ross, Samuel Ross and Alfonzo Lewis — were indicted, with Ross also accused of directing about $10,000 in fraudulent work to a Horton company at Chicago Public Schools.
• The DeKalb County school board held an emergency meeting, placed Horton on paid leave and named Chief of Student Services Norman C. Sauce III as acting superintendent.
• The indictment also alleges more than $30,000 in personal spending on a district card and unreported income; prosecutors seek forfeiture, and Horton’s lawyer says he will contest the charges.