Federal prosecutors allege a former Dohn Community High School superintendent and business partner used more than $8 million in school payments to operate a kickback scheme, with more than $4 million allegedly returned to the superintendent.
Editorial Note
This is a follow-up article. The federal indictment and arrests occurred on September 3, 2026, not September 30.
Leondo Ramone Davenport and Jonathan Larry Ballew have been charged but have not been convicted. The allegations contained in the federal indictment must be proven in court, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until found guilty.
This article is for general educational and informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.
Federal prosecutors have accused a former Ohio community-school superintendent and a business partner of orchestrating an extraordinary procurement scheme in which more than $8 million flowed from a publicly funded school to businesses controlled by the partner while more than $4 million allegedly flowed back to the superintendent.
The case involves Dohn Community High School in Cincinnati, which operated as an Ohio community school—Ohio’s term for a public charter school.
Bottom Line
The indictment alleges that former Superintendent Leondo Ramone Davenport approved fraudulent invoices submitted through companies controlled by Jonathan Larry Ballew.
Federal prosecutors say Dohn paid Ballew’s companies more than $8 million between 2021 and 2024.
They further allege that Ballew returned more than $4 million to Davenport as kickbacks.
Those are allegations, not established facts.
If proven, however, the scale would make the case an unusually serious example of procurement abuse involving public education funding.
What Happened
A federal grand jury indicted Davenport and Ballew in early September.
Davenport served as superintendent of Dohn Community High School from 2015 to 2019.
Prosecutors say an LLC he created later operated the school from 2019 through 2024.
Ballew allegedly created at least four companies purporting to provide educational services, technology, staffing, training, construction, and remodeling work.
How Prosecutors Say the Scheme Worked
According to the indictment, Ballew submitted false or fraudulent invoices through the companies he controlled.
Davenport allegedly approved school payments to those entities.
Federal prosecutors then allege Ballew returned a substantial portion of the money to Davenport.
In total, DOJ says more than $8 million was paid from Dohn to Ballew’s businesses and more than $4 million was allegedly kicked back.
That is the government’s theory of the case and remains subject to trial.
Luxury Spending Allegations
The indictment alleges that money connected with the scheme supported luxury purchases and property rentals.
Federal prosecutors specifically cite a two-year lease for a luxury South Florida vacation property costing $30,000 per month.
Luxury spending frequently becomes relevant in fraud prosecutions because investigators may use financial records to trace whether money supposedly paid for services ultimately supported personal expenses.
Again, those allegations must be proven.
Why Charter-School Governance Matters
Ohio community schools are public schools even though they operate independently from traditional school districts.
That structure can provide flexibility.
It also creates a governance challenge because schools may rely on boards, management organisations, sponsors, vendors, consultants, and related entities to perform functions handled internally by larger districts.
When one person holds influence across multiple parts of that structure, conflicts can become harder to detect.
What This Does Not Mean
The indictment does not mean Dohn’s students or ordinary teachers participated in the alleged scheme.
It also does not mean every payment made to a vendor was fraudulent.
The charges concern the specific conduct identified by prosecutors.
Most importantly, indictment is not conviction.
Davenport and Ballew retain the right to challenge the government’s evidence.
The Bigger Picture
Education systems spend large amounts of money outside the classroom.
Technology contracts, facility work, transportation, curriculum, consulting, staffing, and management services can involve millions of dollars.
Those expenditures often receive less public attention than teacher salaries or classroom spending.
That makes procurement systems a major public-integrity risk.
Boards need clear conflict-of-interest rules, independent invoice review, vendor due diligence, and controls capable of identifying unusual payment patterns.
What Happens Next
The federal criminal case will move through pretrial proceedings.
The government must prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt if the case reaches trial.
Ohio’s auditor has also indicated that related investigative work continues.
Future developments may clarify whether additional individuals or transactions become part of the case.
Why This Matters
When public-school money moves through private companies, transparency becomes essential.
Families and taxpayers need confidence that vendors are paid for real services at reasonable prices rather than because of private financial relationships.
The Dohn allegations are remarkable because of both the amount of money and the percentage allegedly returned through kickbacks.
If proven, the case would demonstrate how quickly weak procurement controls can transform education funding into personal enrichment.
Key Takeaways
- The federal indictment was announced September 3.
- Former Dohn superintendent Leondo Davenport and Jonathan Ballew face federal charges.
- Prosecutors allege Dohn paid Ballew-controlled businesses more than $8 million.
- More than $4 million was allegedly returned to Davenport.
- The indictment describes false invoices and luxury spending.
- Dohn was a public community school under Ohio law.
- The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a conviction?
No.
The defendants have been indicted and are presumed innocent.
Was Dohn a private school?
No.
Dohn operated as an Ohio community school, which is a form of public charter school.
How much money is alleged to have been kicked back?
Federal prosecutors allege more than $4 million.
Final Thoughts
The Dohn case is fundamentally about oversight.
Schools need outside expertise and vendors, but those relationships create vulnerabilities when decision-makers can approve large payments without enough independent review.
Whether prosecutors prove this particular case remains for the courts.
The allegations themselves provide a powerful reason for charter boards and school districts alike to examine who approves vendors, who reviews invoices, and who is watching the people entrusted with public money.
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Sources
U.S. Department of Justice — Southern District of Ohio
