East Aurora School Board Member Charged With Fraud In $1.3M Bribery Scheme Involving Air Purifiers

AURORA, IL — The former president and current board member of the East Aurora School District 131 is facing federal fraud charges after officials allege she accepted a $1.3 million payment in exchange for influencing the Board's vote on a contract to buy air purifiers, city officials said Wednesday.

Annette Johnson is accused of accepting payment from one of the companies she worked for in exchange for using her position to push the district to make a $2.7 million purchase of wearable air purifiers from a reselling company, according to a news release from the City of Aurora.

Leading up to the vote in September 2021, she's accused of setting up meetings between the reselling company's representatives and Board members.

In 2023, Johnson allegedly called for the approval of a $201,077 payment to the company for an "extended warranty" for the purifiers, according to court documents.

Prosecutors also allege Johnson was in a romantic relationship with the owner of one of the businesses involved, which also employed her. The indictment does not name the business but refers to it as "Company 1."

A federal grand jury approved four charges of wire fraud against Johnson in November 2025. Her term on the Board ends in April 2029.

District 131 said they were aware of allegations against Johnson but said in a statement that she is innocent until proven guilty.

"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," Director of Communications Tom Jackson said in a statement. "Notably, the indictment does not name any other current District 131 Board of Education member, administrator or employee as a co-defendant."

Jackson said the district will continue to fully cooperate with authorities in the investigation.

"Our teachers, administrators and staff remain focused on educating, supporting and serving our students each day," he wrote.

Aurora Mayor John Laesch called on Johnson, with whom he served on the Board of Education from 2015 to 2019, to step down.

"As more information comes to light, Ms. Johnson must step down from her role on the East Aurora School Board and with the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry," he said in a statement Wednesday. "This alleged conduct is completely unacceptable, unethical, and violates her oath of office. I look forward to seeing this investigation continue, and hope for justice for families of District 131 and the East Aurora community."