Contractors Pleaded Guilty in Evanston School Fraud Case
Antonio Ross and Alfonzo Lewis admitted to paying kickbacks to the former superintendent of District 65.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Financial Crime
Live Poll
Do you trust your local school district to manage its vendor contracts and funds honestly?
Antonio Ross and Alfonzo Lewis pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges after admitting they paid cash kickbacks to former Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Superintendent Devon Horton. The pair secured district contracts for their consulting companies by submitting invoices for services they never performed.
Why it matters
The guilty pleas represent a significant development in a corruption investigation involving the misappropriation of taxpayer funds intended for District 65. The defendants funneled money to the former superintendent in exchange for lucrative contracts, highlighting a breach of public trust in local education administration.
Antonio Ross and Alfonzo Lewis each pleaded guilty to one count of federal wire fraud and face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Legal proceedings against the defendants are ongoing in Chicago, with sentencing dates scheduled for 2027.
The players
Antonio Ross
A contractor who obtained approximately $119,500 from the school district through fraudulent billing practices.
Alfonzo Lewis
A contractor who received roughly $24,000 from District 65 in exchange for providing cash kickbacks to the superintendent.
Devon Horton
The former Superintendent of Evanston/Skokie School District 65 who accepted bribes in exchange for steering district contracts.
Samuel Ross
A vendor who obtained $124,500 from the district and previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges.
The details
Ross and Lewis paid at least $41,900 and $6,000 in cash kickbacks to Horton, respectively. These payments were tied to contracts for their firms, which failed to perform the work they billed to the district.
Timeline
September 2026: Samuel Ross pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
October 2026: Devon Horton pleaded guilty to fraud and embezzlement.
October 13, 2026: Antonio Ross and Alfonzo Lewis pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
January 5, 2027: Devon Horton is scheduled for sentencing.
March 10, 2027: Antonio Ross is scheduled for sentencing.
Legal Context
This case follows the trajectory of the ongoing federal investigation into Evanston/Skokie School District 65 financial practices. These pleas represent a continued effort by federal authorities to prosecute corruption and the misuse of public school funding within the jurisdiction.
Residents of Evanston may see further legal developments as officials continue to unravel the financial impact on District 65 schools. The case serves as a critical update for taxpayers concerned with the accountability and oversight of local educational resources.
The takeaway
These convictions underscore the severe consequences for contractors who compromise public institutions for personal gain. Residents should remain vigilant about school district transparency and the mechanisms used to monitor vendor contract integrity.
What happens next
Devon Horton is scheduled for sentencing on January 5, 2027, followed by Antonio Ross on March 10, 2027.
Further reading
For more information on legal proceedings, visit the Financial Crime section.
Live Poll
Do you trust your local school district to manage its vendor contracts and funds honestly?
