CHICAGO, IL — Former DeKalb County Schools Superintendent Devon Horton has pleaded guilty to three counts for his part in a kickback scheme during a change-of-plea hearing Monday in his federal case in Illinois.

He pleaded guilty to wire fraud, embezzlement and tax evasion. He was originally facing 17 federal charges and previously pleaded not guilty to more than a dozen federal charges.

The hearing comes days after Samuel Ross, one of Horton’s three friends and co-defendants, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and agreed to cooperate with the government.

Ross admitted his loss prevention company was paid for services that did not exist through school district contracts awarded by Horton while Horton served as superintendent of Evanston-Skokie District 65. Ross admitted to kicking back at least $30,000 to Horton.

Federal prosecutors say Horton received more than $80,000 from the three co-defendants as part of the scheme.

Horton resigned as superintendent of DeKalb County Schools after he was federally indicted.

WSB Radio’s Veronica Waters, Miles Montgomery, and Ashley Simmons contributed to this story.