Overview
- Los Angeles County prosecutors, who filed the case Thursday, obtained an arrest warrant for Hong “Grace” Peng and an extradition warrant for Innive owner Gautham Sampath, with bail set at $500,000 each and arraignments pending.
- From 2018 to 2022, Peng allegedly steered more than $22 million in LAUSD contracts—mostly tied to MiSiS, the student record system—to Innive as Sampath routed over $3 million back to her through intermediaries.
- Charging documents quote chats in which Peng wrote “I broke all law for you already lol,” and show Sampath urging her to delete WhatsApp messages and discussing how to move money out of sight.
- The district says a tip in April 2022 sparked an Inspector General probe, search warrants followed later that year, Peng resigned, and investigators are still seeking records from organizations that have worked with Innive.
- LAUSD, the nation’s second-largest district, depends on MiSiS to track enrollment, attendance, grades, and schedules, and the case adds pressure for tighter contract oversight as the superintendent remains on leave after separate FBI raids.