The FBI is seeking information about any individuals, vendors or contractors who may have received payments from Youngstown City Schools for services not performed or goods not provided or used, or vendors who received funds from the district while paying kickbacks (or “finder’s fees”) to district employees or associates of district employees, from 2019 to the present, according to a news release late Thursday night.

FBI agents served a search warrant at the QUICKmed Urgent Care at 3499 Belmont Ave. on Wednesday. FBI agents also were at the Youngstown City School District offices the same day.

The agency conducted “court-authorized activity” at the health care provider’s Belmont Avenue location, along with the company’s corporate location and additional locations, a news release from FBI Public Affairs Officer Susan Licate states. Licate could not say if the two investigations were linked.

A reporter went to a house at 1185 Trails Edge Drive in Hubbard, which is listed on the website of the Trumbull County Auditor’s Office as a property owned by QUICKmed owner and founder Lena Esmail, seeking comment. The reporter was told to leave by a man in the house.

In a news release sent later Wednesday, QUICKmed stated it “continues to deliver service at all its locations” following its cooperation with federal agents.

The release stated FBI agents asked for access to documents related to COVID-19, and that the company satisfied all requests instantaneously.

“We will continue to work transparently with government authorities,” the release stated.

“We are proud of the services we provide as the community health care partner, and we look forward to providing quality care to the communities we serve for years to come.”

The company sent an updated statement Thursday from a public relations firm.

“We will continue to be responsive and would appreciate the opportunity to provide our perspective as part of any future news stories,” the emailed statement from Pecchia Communications read.

A source familiar with the Youngstown City School District, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the FBI interviewed Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor, Chief of Staff Robert Kearns, Treasurer Bryan Schiraldi, Chief of School Improvement Ava Yeager and some school board members.

The source said the investigation is tied to contracts that were proposed or secured by former Superintendent Justin Jennings.

Youngstown Schools spokeswoman Stacy Quinones said the district is cooperating with authorities but had no comment on the investigation.

QUICKmed has 12 care facilities in the Youngstown and Cleveland areas, according to its website. That includes six in the Mahoning Valley: Austintown, Cortland, Liberty, Warren, Youngstown and Columbiana. QUICKmed clinics also found their way into the Liberty, Youngstown and Salem school districts, and one opened in Trumbull Career & Technical Center in Champion. Four of them have been set up in the Youngstown City School District

Those with information are asked to call 1-800-CALL FBI. Information will remain confidential.