tity theft. By the time the AI deal collapsed, the LAUSD had reportedly paid AllHere $3 million in advance.

Carvalho is not named in the investigation against Smith-Griffin, and he has not been charged with a crime.

The FBI searched the Florida property that belonged to Debra Kerr, an education technology salesperson who connects companies with schools, who previously worked with AllHere.

Kerr said she was never paid her $630,000 commission for her work in closing the AllHere deal with the LA district, according to a news organization, The 74, that covered the company's bankruptcy hearings in 2024.

The 74 reported that Kerr had longstanding ties with Carvalho from when he oversaw the Miami-Dade district and that her son who worked for AllHere pitched the technology to LA school leaders after he took over the helm there.

Carvalho denies wrongdoing

Over the past five years in Los Angeles, Carvalho has been lauded for the district's improvements to academic performance. He won similar praise while overseeing Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Florida's largest school district, where the national superintendents association named him Superintendent of the Year in 2014.

Spain knighted the Portugal-born administrator in 2021 for his work in expanding Spanish-language programs for Miami-Dade County schools.

Months later, Carvalho took the job in California and became a harsh critic of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration crackdown, especially following raids in Los Angeles last year.

Carvalho arrived in Los Angeles at a critical moment, as the district found itself flush with funding from state and federal COVID-19 relief money but still struggling with the impacts of the pandemic, including learning losses and declining enrollment. He previously sparred with Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis over his order that schools not require masks during the pandemic.

In March, Carvalho broke his silence and denied any wrongdoing.

Through a statement released via a spokesperson, Carvalho maintained his innocence amid the federal investigation.

 Mr. Carvalho remains confident that the evidence will ultimately demonstrate that he acted appropriately and in the best interests of students. We hope the School Board reinstates him promptly to his position as Superintendent,  the statement read.

Carvalho's legal representative, Holland   Knight LLP, said they look forward to cooperating with law enforcement so that  the full facts can be reviewed in their entirety. 

 Mr. Carvalho respects the rule of law and the investigative process and has always acted in the best interests of students and within the bounds of the law,  the statement continued.  While the government's investigation remains ongoing, no evidence has been presented by prosecutors supporting any allegation that Mr. Carvalho violated federal law.