Ex-Charter School CEO Indicted in $2M Embezzlement Scheme

BATON ROUGE, LA — Dr. Chakesha Scott, a prominent charter school administrator who frequently lectured online and in leadership circles about accountability and leading through difficult moments, has been indicted by a federal grand jury. The indictment alleges a massive, years-long conspiracy to siphon millions of dollars intended for public education to fund a lavish lifestyle of luxury cars, personal travel, and real estate.

The criminal indictment, handed down in the Middle District of Louisiana, charges Chakesha Scott, her husband Eric Scott, their daughter Courtney Scott, and independent contractor Sam Green. Together, federal prosecutors allege, they executed a complex embezzlement scheme that spanned from 2018 until 2024 at Impact Charter School in Baker, Louisiana.

A Network of Deception

According to court documents, Dr. Scott—serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Impact Charter School (operated by the non-profit Education Explosion)—diverted more than $2 million in school funding into a bank account for a separate organization, “Friends of Impact Charter School,” where she also held the position of CEO.

Federal investigators outline a series of unapproved, personal expenditures hidden under the guise of business expenses:

• Luxury Vehicles: The indictment alleges Dr. Scott utilized $166,520 of school funds to purchase a 2021 Land Rover and a 2017 Acura MDX for personal and family use. She is also accused of spending an additional $42,371 of school money to buy a 2018 Tesla from a dealership in Metairie.
• Misapplied Student Fees: Over a four-year period, Chakesha and Eric Scott intentionally misapplied $292,993 that had been collected directly from school families intended for student uniforms and school activities. Prosecutors say these cash and check fees were pocketed and spent on luxury personal travel and credit card bills totaling $114,094.
• Real Estate Devotion: In 2022, Dr. Scott allegedly funneled $171,659 of Impact Charter funds to cover closing costs on a private property that the school system did not even own.
• Kickback Schemes: Prosecutors state that Dr. Scott intentionally overpaid contractor Sam Green (operating Sam Green and Sons) using school funds, instructing him to kick back the excess money directly into her personal bank account. Green also allegedly performed extensive construction work on the Scott family’s private property, fully funded by the school.

A Drastic Downfall and State Takeover

The cracks in the operation began appearing in May 2024 when federal and state law enforcement authorities raided Impact Charter School. A scathing independent audit published in February 2025 laid bare the vast financial inconsistencies and systemic abuse of public funding.

The audit prompted rapid intervention from state officials. Days after its publication, the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) dissolved the existing leadership structure, appointing an entirely new board of directors to stabilize the school and safeguard its students.

Following the federal indictment, state education leaders expressed relief that the justice system was holding the former administrators accountable.

“Today’s federal indictment reinforces the Louisiana Department of Education and BESE’s decision in early 2025 to install new leadership and protect the school’s students and staff,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley. “We appreciate federal investigators for pursuing this matter.”

Legal Charges and Next Steps

All four individuals named in the grand jury indictment are charged with conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds.

Because of their direct roles in the financial transactions, Eric Scott faces two additional counts of federal program theft. Dr. Chakesha Scott faces the heaviest legal jeopardy, hit with money laundering charges and five individual counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds.

BESE officials issued a statement noting that while individuals are legally presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, they remain committed to ensuring strict oversight. “When individuals violate the public’s trust, they must be held accountable through the appropriate legal and administrative processes.”

Dr. Scott has previously used professional platforms, including LinkedIn, to distribute videos emphasizing that true leadership means upholding values under pressure. She and her co-defendants now face the reality of defending those very leadership decisions before a federal judge.