Lausd Superintendent Alberto Carvalho: FBI raids of lausd superintendent alberto carvalho's home and office appear tied to AI chatbot probe
Federal agents executed search warrants at the San Pedro home and the downtown headquarters office of lausd superintendent alberto carvalho on Wednesday morning, in actions that appear connected to an investigation involving an AI chatbot company. The warrants were sealed and officials provided limited public detail.
Lausd Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and raids
People with knowledge of the matter who spoke on background said the federal investigation specifically involves Alberto Carvalho, who has served as LAUSD superintendent since February 2022. Carvalho joined LAUSD in 2022 after leading the Miami-Dade school district, where he was known for improving academics and for clashing with Gov. Ron DeSantis over pandemic mandates.
Searches in Los Angeles and Florida
Agents searched Carvalho’s San Pedro residence on S. Parker Street and his office at the Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday morning. The FBI also provided an address in Florida that was searched; that Florida residence is in Southwest Ranches, a town in Broward County, Fla. An FBI spokesman in Miami confirmed agents searched a residence in Southwest Ranches in connection with the investigation.
AllHere and the “Ed” chatbot
The raids appear tied to a company that developed an AI chatbot for LAUSD. That company failed and its founder was charged with fraud in 2024. The chatbot, known as “Ed, ” had been withdrawn from service by the time the founder’s arrest came. Ed was an artificial intelligence tool billed by Carvalho in August 2024 as revolut... unclear in the provided context.
People tied to the Florida property
Public record databases show the Florida property searched is listed to Debra Kerr, a salesperson whose clients included the AI company. Public records and property records link that home to an individual who worked with the chatbot company. Kerr has long ties to Carvalho dating back to his time as superintendent in Miami, and she worked as a consultant to the AI company. She has claimed in court documents that the company owes her $630, 000. Attempts to contact Kerr were unsuccessful. Neither the FBI nor confidential individuals identified Kerr on Wednesday as a target of the investigation.
What
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 as well as at the headquarters of the school district, and he confirmed a search in Florida but declined to comment further. A separate statement from the U. S. Attorney's Office said, "Law enforcement is executing a judicially approved search warrant at those locations. We have no further comment. "
The district released a statement saying, "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.
Scenes at the San Pedro home
Witnesses saw roughly two dozen federal agents wearing blue jackets with "FBI" on the back enter the district office and agents in blue raid jackets carrying cardboard boxes at Carvalho’s San Pedro home. Neighbors counted more than 20 FBI agents in unmarked vehicles. Reporters and photographers were kept at bay across the street. It was unclear what, if anything, was taken during the searches.
People briefed on the matter described the case as white-collar in nature and likely financial, and emphasized the warrants are sealed. Neighbors reported seeing someone in handcuffs, but people familiar with the operation say no one was arrested during the raids and there was no indication agents ransacked the home.
The AI company’s founder, Joanna Smith-Griffin, was arrested in 2024 and charged with securities fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft; she allegedly lied to investors while leading the company. Sources familiar with the probe said the focus was Carvalho rather than the school district, and that the matter would fall under the broad category of financial issues.
Investigators have not released further details as the affidavits are sealed, and officials have limited public comment while the inquiry continues.
