Alberto Carvalho’s home and LAUSD office searched in probe tied to AI chatbot company
Federal agents executed judicially approved search warrants at the San Pedro home and downtown headquarters office of alberto carvalho on Wednesday morning, an action tied to an inquiry involving a failed AI company that once built a chatbot for the district.
FBI teams also searched a Florida residence the bureau supplied as part of the operation, and officials described the warrants as sealed. The activity touched Carvalho’s San Pedro home on S. Parker Street and the Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters in downtown Los Angeles.
Law enforcement the investigation appears connected to AllHere, the AI company whose founder was arrested in 2024 on charges of securities fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The district’s chatbot, known as Ed, had been withdrawn from service by the time those charges were brought; Ed was described publicly in August 2024 by Carvalho as an artificial intelligence tool.
Officials emphasized the sealed nature of the filings. Ciaran McEvoy, a spokesperson for the U. S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles, confirmed that law enforcement was "executing a judicially approved search warrant" at Carvalho’s home and at LAUSD headquarters and also confirmed a search in Florida, but he declined to comment further.
Alberto Carvalho's San Pedro home and LAUSD office were searched
Agents in blue jackets marked "FBI" were seen entering Carvalho’s San Pedro residence carrying cardboard boxes; neighbors counted more than 20 agents arriving in unmarked vehicles. The entry did not involve armored vehicles or doors being busted, and observers said the teams left quickly with items they had collected. Neighbors reported seeing someone in handcuffs, but no arrests were made during the raids.
Florida search tied to AllHere consultant’s property
FBI agents conducted a separate search in Southwest Ranches in Broward County, Fla., a property listed in public records as owned by Debra Kerr, a salesperson and consultant whose clients included AllHere. Public records link that Florida address to an individual who worked with AllHere; attempts to contact Kerr were unsuccessful. Court paperwork and public filings show Kerr has claimed the company owes her $630, 000, and her son Richard has been identified as a former AllHere account executive who pitched the company to L. A. school leaders.
What agents did and what witnesses saw
About two dozen federal agents wearing blue FBI jackets were reported at the downtown district headquarters as well as at the San Pedro home. Witnesses saw agents collect items and leave; it was unclear what was taken. Sources briefed on the matter described the search as swift and said the allegations under seal are not violent in nature.
Probe appears tied to AllHere and withdrawn chatbot "Ed"
Officials and people familiar with the investigation said the focus was Carvalho specifically rather than the district as an institution, and that the matter would fall into a broad category of financial issues. Joanna Smith-Griffin, the founder and former chief executive of AllHere, was arrested in 2024 on charges of securities fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. By the time of her arrest, the LAUSD chatbot Ed had been pulled from service.
The district issued a statement: "We have been informed of law enforcement activity at Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters and at the home of the Superintendent. The District is cooperating with the investigation and we do not have further information at this time. " The Mayor’s Office added: "LAUSD is an independent body not governed by the City of Los Angeles. The Mayor's Office has no information about this. " Carvalho’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Federal officials confirmed two sealed search warrants were served on Wednesday morning. The U. S. attorney’s spokesperson and the FBI declined to provide further details while the affidavits remain under seal. The next confirmed public milestone is the ongoing review of the sealed court filings and any formal announcements the U. S. attorney’s office or FBI choose to make in the coming days.
