The case first come to light in April 2022. Since then, LAUSD’s Office of Inspector General and the DA’s Bureau of Investigation have been actively working on it, the D.A. says.
In what prosecutors call one of the largest money-laundering schemes in Los Angeles Unified School District history, a former schools information-technology employee and a tech vendor are facing felony charges in connection with an alleged scheme that channeled more than $22 million in contracts to the vendor, officials announced on Thursday, March 26.
The ex-LAUSD employee, Hong “Grace” Peng, 53, of Pasadena is charged with one felony count each of money laundering and having a financial interest in a contract or purchase made in an official capacity. Gautham Sampath, also 53, of Flower Mound, Texas is charged with one felony count each of money laundering, having a financial interest in a contract or purchase made in an official capacity, and aiding and abetting a government official to have a financial interest in a contract or purchase made in an official capacity.“This case involves a blatant abuse of public trust — funneling taxpayer dollars intended for students into personal coffers,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a statement. “This vendor, working with an LAUSD project manager, allegedly carried out a multi-year, multi-contract pay-to-play arrangement that siphoned millions of dollars from our schools. … Both will be held fully accountable.” Prosecutors allege that from 2018 to 2022, Peng, who served as a technical project manager for LAUSD, illegally participated in the awarding of contracts primarily related to the district’s My Integrated Student Information System — known as MiSiS — to Innive, a company owned by Sampath. The contracts totaled more than $22 million. Sampath is further accused of routing and laundering over $3 million back to Peng through various intermediaries, Hochman said. Peng resigned from LAUSD after a search warrant related to the investigation was served at her home and her workplace in late 2022. Sampath and his company Innive currently have government contracts throughout California and across the country, prosecutors said.The case first come to light in April 2022. Since then, LAUSD’s Office of Inspector General and the DA’s Bureau of Investigation have been actively working on it, the D.A. said. Prosecutors ask that if anyone has information of an organization entering into a contract with Innive to contact the DA’s Public Integrity Division at 213-257-2475 or via an online form atSan Clemente towing company accused of illegally selling cars belonging to Camp Pendleton military members Man wins $1.4 million verdict after golf ball shattered glass that damaged his eye at Long Beach courseWhat to know about the planned Saturday, March 28 ‘No Kings’ protests in Southern CaliforniaIn the California governor’s race, two Republicans land at top of the state Democratic Party’s pollUCLA faces questions after falling short of the Sweet 16Los Angeles City Council prepares to install speed cameras as part of state safety pilotShirtless intruder found sleeping in Valley Village home
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