Federal authorities are conducting raids at the home and headquarters of Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the FBI confirmed Wednesday.
Investigation Underway
FBI agents are executing search warrants at Carvalho’s home and LAUSD headquarters. Law enforcement sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated the federal investigation specifically involves Carvalho. A search is also underway at a property associated with Carvalho in Miami.
Ciaran McEvoy, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles, confirmed the execution of judicially approved search warrants. The FBI declined to provide further details, citing sealed affidavits. An LAUSD spokesperson also declined to comment.
Previous Scrutiny
Prior to his appointment in Los Angeles, Carvalho faced scrutiny from the Miami-Dade school system’s inspector general in 2020. The investigation concerned a $1.57-million donation Carvalho helped solicit from an online instruction company for a foundation he oversaw, while the company had a pending contract with the district.
The online platform provided by the company was reportedly “mired in problems” and ultimately discontinued. While the inspector general concluded the donation did not violate ethics policies, it created “the appearance of impropriety,” and recommended the funds be returned. Instead, the foundation distributed the money to teachers in the form of $100 gift certificates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the FBI raids?
The FBI is executing search warrants at the home and headquarters of LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, and at a property in Miami. The reason for the searches was not immediately clear.
Has Carvalho responded to the raids?
As of Wednesday, an LAUSD spokesperson declined to comment, and the FBI has not released further information.
What was Carvalho’s role before coming to LAUSD?
Carvalho previously served as the superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools before joining LAUSD in February 2022.
What impact will these events have on the Los Angeles Unified School District remains to be seen.
