On Thursday night, the FBI launched a tip line seeking more information about alleged "kickbacks" using federal money involving the Youngstown City School district.

A media alert from the FBI's Cleveland Office said they are 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.

Legal scholars told 21 News that opening a tip line is not unusual for financial crimes but is usually launched in bigger cities.

"It does seem to be that this is a financial crime; there seems to be some form of reimbursements or payments going through the school district out to these other entities for services that may not be actually being rendered, or they are overcharging, or some other types of activities are going on," Case Western Reserve University School of Law professor of practice, Michael Benza said. 

21 News spoke to two retired FBI agents who said setting up the tip line now could indicate that the investigation is entering a new phase, where they are seeking to supplement information they have already gathered.

That could mean that it is still early or that agents need help to get to the finish line.

"The normal investigation is not giving [the FBI agents] them all of the information and all of the witnesses that they think might actually be out there," Benza said

To leave an anonymous tip, agents are urging people to call 1-800-CALLFBI