VOLUME 20 NO. 13VOLUME 20 NO. 13SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2026 
SIERRA MADRE WISTARIA FESTIVAL SATURDAY 9am - 5pm 
PASADENA 
RESIDENT 
CHARGED 
IN MILLION 
DOLLAR 
MONEY 
LAUN-
DERING 
SCHEME 
• former LAUSD employee isaccused of directing $22 million indistrict contracts to a tech companyowner who allegedly funneled $3 mil-
lion back to her. 
• L.A. County Dist. Atty. NathanHochman called it the largest money-
laundering scheme in the school dis-
trict’s history. 
In what prosecutors call one of the 
largest money laundering schemes in 
Los Angeles Unified School District 
history, a former schools information 
technology employee and a tech ven-
dor are facing felony charges in con-
nection with an alleged scheme that 
channeled more than $22 million in 
contracts to the vendor, officials an-
nounced today. 
The ex-LAUSD employee, Hong``Grace'' Peng, 53, of Pasadena, is 
charged with one felony count each 
of money laundering and having a 
financial 
interest in a contract or purchase 
made in an official capacity. 
Gautham Sampath, also 53, of Flow-
er Mound, Texas, is charged with one 
felony count each of money launder-
ing, having a financial interest in a 
contract or purchase made in an offi-
cial capacity and aiding and abetting 
a government official to have a finan-
cial interest in a contract or purchase 
made in an official capacity. 
An arrest warrant has been issued 
for Peng and an extradition warrant 
has been issued for Sampath. Ar-
raignment for both defendants will be 
scheduled 
at a later date. 
``This case involves a blatant abuse 
of public trust -- funneling taxpayer 
dollars intended for students into per-
sonal coffers,'' Los Angeles CountyDistrict Attorney Nathan J. Hochman 
said in a statement. ``This vendor, 
working with an LAUSD project man-
ager, allegedly carried out a multi-year, 
multi-contract pay-to-play arrange-
ment that siphoned millions of dollars 
from our schools. We will not tolerate 
public officials who sell out their re-
sponsibilities or contractors who line 
their pockets by gaming the system.
Both will be held fully accountable.'' 
Prosecutors allege that between 2018 
and 2022, Peng, who served as a tech-
nical project manager for LAUSD, il-
legally participated in the awarding(continued on page 4) 
VOLUME 20 NO. 13VOLUME 20 NO. 13SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2026 
SIERRA MADRE WISTARIA FESTIVAL SATURDAY 9am - 5pm 
PASADENA 
RESIDENT 
CHARGED 
IN MILLION 
DOLLAR 
MONEY 
LAUN-
DERING 
SCHEME 
• former LAUSD employee isaccused of directing $22 million indistrict contracts to a tech companyowner who allegedly funneled $3 mil-
lion back to her. 
• L.A. County Dist. Atty. NathanHochman called it the largest money-
laundering scheme in the school dis-
trict’s history. 
In what prosecutors call one of the 
largest money laundering schemes in 
Los Angeles Unified School District 
history, a former schools information 
technology employee and a tech ven-
dor are facing felony charges in con-
nection with an alleged scheme that 
channeled more than $22 million in 
contracts to the vendor, officials an-
nounced today. 
The ex-LAUSD employee, Hong``Grace'' Peng, 53, of Pasadena, is 
charged with one felony count each 
of money laundering and having a 
financial 
interest in a contract or purchase 
made in an official capacity. 
Gautham Sampath, also 53, of Flow-
er Mound, Texas, is charged with one 
felony count each of money launder-
ing, having a financial interest in a 
contract or purchase made in an offi-
cial capacity and aiding and abetting 
a government official to have a finan-
cial interest in a contract or purchase 
made in an official capacity. 
An arrest warrant has been issued 
for Peng and an extradition warrant 
has been issued for Sampath. Ar-
raignment for both defendants will be 
scheduled 
at a later date. 
``This case involves a blatant abuse 
of public trust -- funneling taxpayer 
dollars intended for students into per-
sonal coffers,'' Los Angeles CountyDistrict Attorney Nathan J. Hochman 
said in a statement. ``This vendor, 
working with an LAUSD project man-
ager, allegedly carried out a multi-year, 
multi-contract pay-to-play arrange-
ment that siphoned millions of dollars 
from our schools. We will not tolerate 
public officials who sell out their re-
sponsibilities or contractors who line 
their pockets by gaming the system.
Both will be held fully accountable.'' 
Prosecutors allege that between 2018 
and 2022, Peng, who served as a tech-
nical project manager for LAUSD, il-
legally participated in the awarding(continued on page 4) 
In Escrow
354 N Cañon Avenue 
Sierra Madre 
Listed for $2,949,000 

4 BD | 4 BA | 3,006 SF | 38,897 SF LOT 

Judy Webb-Martin 
626.688.2273 

DRE #00541631 

Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equa

Housing Opportunity laws. Lic. #01991628. All material presented herein is intended for

informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been

verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No

statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage

are approximate. If your property is currently listed for sale this is not a solicitation.