FBI investigating Des Plaines-based charter school group

A Des Plaines-based charter school management company is under federal investigation on allegations of "white-collar" crime, officials said this week.

The FBI, U.S. Department of Education and the Federal Communications Commission is investigating Concept Schools, a nonprofit organization that operates 30 college-prep schools in seven states including Illinois, according to published reports.

Officials executed search warrants on June 4 at 19 Concept schools, including three in Chicago, one in Peoria, and others in Indiana and Ohio, reports state.

FBI officials based in Cleveland told media outlets their investigation is related to an "ongoing white-collar matter," but didn't provide additional details about the nature of the inquiry.

Concept Schools is headquartered at 2250 E. Devon Ave. in Des Plaines. Officials there didn't respond to a request for comment.

Last December, the Illinois State Charter School Commission ordered the Chicago Public Schools to approve and fund two new charter schools run by Concept Schools. CPS previously denied the organization's application to open the schools.