Samuel Ross Pleaded Guilty in District 65 Fraud Case

The defendant admitted to participating in a kickback scheme involving false contracts at the local school district.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Financial Crime

Samuel Ross Pleaded Guilty in District 65 Fraud Case

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Samuel Ross has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for his role in a scheme to secure false contracts from Evanston/Skokie School District 65. As part of his plea, he has agreed to cooperate and testify against his co-defendants, including Devon Horton.

Why it matters

The case sheds light on alleged corruption involving school district funds and contracts for non-existent services. It also impacts the upcoming criminal proceedings for other defendants charged alongside Ross.

Samuel Ross faces an expected prison sentence of 37 to 46 months for his guilty plea. Devon Horton currently faces 17 separate counts of wire fraud, tax fraud, and embezzlement.

The players

Samuel Ross

He is the defendant who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and agreed to testify for the prosecution.

Devon Horton

He is a co-defendant facing 17 counts of fraud and embezzlement who also faces separate assault charges in Georgia.

Evanston/Skokie School District 65

This is the local educational institution that was the primary site of the alleged fraudulent contract scheme.

The details

Prosecutors alleged that Devon Horton awarded false loss prevention contracts to Asset Protection, which were never actually performed. Ross funneled payments from these fraudulent contracts to Horton as cash kickbacks.

October 2025: Defendants were indicted by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
September 29, 2026: Samuel Ross entered a formal guilty plea.
October 21, 2026: The jury trial for the remaining defendants is scheduled to begin.

Legal Context

This case follows the investigative pattern established by the Northern District of Illinois federal fraud indictments. The prosecution demonstrates an ongoing effort to root out public sector corruption and contract fraud within regional institutions.

The case highlights vulnerabilities in school district contract oversight that may lead to stricter vetting procedures for future vendors. Residents may see continued public scrutiny regarding the financial management of District 65 funds.

The takeaway

The plea deal marks a significant shift in the prosecution's case by securing internal testimony for the upcoming October trial. It underscores the importance of transparency in public school procurement processes to prevent the misuse of taxpayer funds.