FBI Raids Target LAUSD Superintendent Carvalho Over Failed $6 Million AllHere AI Contract and Possible Financial Misconduct
Federal agents executed search warrants Feb. 25 at Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters and at multiple residences tied to Superintendent Alberto Carvalho — including his San Pedro home and a Southwest Ranches, Florida property — with LAUSD confirming law‑enforcement activity, some employees asked to leave, and officials saying they are cooperating while the sealed affidavits leave the investigation’s precise focus and any charges unclear. Media reports suggest the probe may be connected to a failed $6 million AllHere AI contract (about $3 million paid up front), with agents also visiting the Miami‑area home of a former AllHere salesperson who says she’s owed commissions; the company’s founder has been accused of embezzlement and other fraud, and critics note past controversies around Carvalho and potential appearance‑of‑impropriety in contract‑related donations.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- FBI agents executed searches at LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho’s Los Angeles residence in San Pedro and at Los Angeles Unified School District downtown headquarters; neighbors reported agents at Carvalho’s home as early as 6 a.m. PT on Feb. 25, 2026, and LAUSD said some employees were asked to leave the building.
- Federal agents also executed searches in Florida: a residence in Southwest Ranches (Broward County) linked to Carvalho was part of the probe, and agents searched the Miami‑area home of former AllHere salesperson Debra Kerr, who is reported to have close ties to Carvalho.
- Warrant affidavits are under seal; neither the FBI nor Carvalho has disclosed the purpose or scope of the investigation, and no charges have been announced. LAUSD says it is cooperating, while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s office said LAUSD is an independent body and had 'no information' about the probe.
- Reporting identifies the likely focus of the investigation as a failed $6 million AI contract LAUSD awarded to ed‑tech company AllHere, with roughly $3 million reportedly paid up front.
- AllHere’s 'Ed' AI chatbot deal collapsed in 2024 after founder Joanna Smith‑Griffin was accused and later charged with embezzlement and with securities fraud, wire fraud and identity theft amid data‑privacy and whistleblower concerns.
- Debra Kerr has claimed in AllHere’s bankruptcy court filings that she was owed commissions for helping secure the LAUSD contract, tying her financially to the deal under scrutiny.
- Background context: Carvalho previously helped secure a $1.57 million donation from a company that had a pending contract in Miami‑Dade, which an inspector general said created an 'appearance of impropriety' even if it did not technically violate policy.
đź“° Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
February 27, 2026
9:15 AM
FBI raid involving LA schools superintendent possibly tied to failed $6M AI deal, potential conflict
New information:
- Identifies the likely focus of the FBI investigation as a failed $6 million AI contract Carvalho awarded to ed‑tech company AllHere, with $3 million paid up front.
- Reports that federal agents also searched the Miami‑area home of former AllHere salesperson Debra Kerr, described as having close ties to Carvalho during his Miami‑Dade tenure.
- Details that AllHere’s 'Ed' AI chatbot contract collapsed in 2024 after its founder Joanna Smith‑Griffin was accused of embezzlement and later charged with securities fraud, wire fraud and identity theft, amid data‑privacy and whistleblower concerns.
- Notes that Kerr has claimed in AllHere’s bankruptcy court filings that she was owed commissions for helping secure the LAUSD deal, tying her financially to the contract at issue.
- Adds historical context that Carvalho previously helped secure a $1.57 million donation from a company with a pending contract in Miami‑Dade, which an inspector general said created an 'appearance of impropriety' even if it did not technically violate policy.
February 26, 2026
2:26 PM
Reasons behind FBI raid of Los Angeles schools chief Alberto Carvalho's home unclear
New information:
- CBS reiterates that the FBI has served search warrants at Alberto Carvalho’s home but says the reasons for the federal raid remain unknown.
- The segment underscores that neither the FBI nor Carvalho has publicly disclosed the purpose or scope of the investigation.
- It reinforces that, as of this airing, no charges against Carvalho have been announced and the warrant affidavit remains under seal.
2:01 PM
FBI searches home of L.A. schools superintendent
New information:
- Confirms that FBI agents executed a search at the Los Angeles home of LAUSD superintendent Alberto Carvalho on Wednesday.
- Confirms that FBI agents also searched Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters the same day.
- Reports that, in a public statement, LAUSD says it is cooperating with the FBI investigation while the specific focus of the search remains unclear.
February 25, 2026
9:39 PM
FBI raids home of Los Angeles schools chief Alberto Carvalho
New information:
- Confirms the third search location: a residence in Southwest Ranches, Broward County, Florida, is linked to Carvalho and part of the same investigation.
- Specifies that neighbors observed FBI agents at Carvalho’s San Pedro home as early as 6 a.m. PT on Feb. 25, 2026.
- Adds on‑the‑record LAUSD confirmation of 'law enforcement activity' at its downtown HQ and that some employees were asked to leave the building.
- Clarifies that the warrant affidavits are under seal and that it is not yet clear what wrongdoing, if any, Carvalho is suspected of.
- Notes that LA Mayor Karen Bass’s office emphasized LAUSD is an independent body not governed by the city and said it had 'no information' about the investigation.
- Provides brief context on Carvalho’s tenure: he led Miami‑Dade County Public Schools from 2008 until taking the LAUSD job in 2022 and has recently focused on immigration‑enforcement‑related issues.