OAKLAND -- The FBI and IRS have opened a criminal investigation into a charter school whose former director allegedly funneled $3.8 million from the school to companies he owns for construction and classroom rental spaces, and they were executing search warrants at three locations Wednesday afternoon.
"These are sealed search warrants and they are part of an ongoing criminal investigation," said FBI spokeswoman Julie Sohn.
Sohn would not say when the investigation into American Indian Model Schools started or what it entails.
A state audit last year found that former school director Ben Chavis, who now lives in North Carolina, broke state laws including the Political Reform Act, when he directed the
Gui Yu, of Oakland, who has a child attending the American Indian Model Schools, holds a sign as well as a large banner during a Oakland Unified School District special meeting to pull the charter of the AIM Schools in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, March 20, 2013. ( Doug Duran )
school to hire his companies.
Chavis did not immediately return phone calls Wednesday. Current school director Nabeehah Shakir also was not available for comment.
In June, Chavis said the money he got from the school for renovation and construction was money he donated to the