Federal indictment alleges East Aurora board member took $1.3M in air purifier scheme

Federal prosecutors in the Northern District of Illinois charged East Aurora District 131 board member Annette Johnson Tuesday with taking a $1.3 million payment from a company she worked for, then steering the district toward a $2.7 million purchase of that company's wearable air purifiers.

The indictment covers August 2021 through May 2023 and alleges Johnson drew on money earmarked for COVID relief while concealing her link to the air purifier vendors. At the time, Johnson served as board president, sat on the district's Finance and Personnel Committee, and acted as chief financial officer of one company affiliated with the purifiers; she was also connected to two other firms in that business.

Prosecutors allege that in May 2023 Johnson arranged meetings intended to advance a further $201,077 payment to the air purifier company for annual services. The companies paid her $7,500 that year, which the indictment says she left off her statement of economic interest filed with Kane County, where such disclosure is required.

District 131 posted a statement about the charges on its website: "While the allegations made against Ms. Johnson are incredibly serious and concerning, Ms. Johnson, like all other defendants, is entitled to a presumption of innocence." The district also noted that "the indictment does not name any other current District 131 Board of Education member, administrator or employee as a co-defendant," and said it "has and will continue to fully cooperate with the authorities in any continued investigation of these matters."

Johnson's attorney did not respond to a request for comment. District records show her board term runs through April 2029.