News

College Admission Scandal – Celebrities, Business Leaders Charged in Massive Scheme

March 13, 2019

On Tuesday, March 12, 2019, the United States Department of Justice announced the indictment of and charges against dozens of high profile individuals in an admissions fraud scheme involving the purchase of access to the nation’s top universities.

Based on our experience in federal bribery matters and our review of the charging documents and allegations in these cases, it will be interesting to see if the involvement of Cooperating Witnesses 1, 2, and 3 establishes a viable entrapment defense.

We will keep you updated.

Below are portions of the DOJ press release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme

Investigations of College Admissions and Testing Bribery Scheme

Dozens of individuals involved in a nationwide conspiracy that facilitated cheating on college entrance exams and the admission of students to elite universities as purported athletic recruits were arrested by federal agents in multiple states and charged in documents unsealed on March 12, 2019, in federal court in Boston. Athletic coaches from Yale, Stanford, USC, Wake Forest and Georgetown, among others, are implicated, as well as parents and exam administrators. 

Below is a list of the defendants. The charging documents are attached at the bottom of this page. 

Charged by Information
DefendantChargesCase StatusU.S. District Court
William Rick SINGER Docket 19-CR-10078- RWZRacketeering conspiracy; money laundering conspiracy; conspiracy to defraud US; obstruction of justice The defendant pled guilty to all counts on 3/12/2019,  Sentencing is scheduled for June 19th, 2019 at 2:00 PM in courtroom 12 before Judge Zobel.  The defendant has been released on a $500,000 unsecured bond.District of Massachusetts
Rudolph “Rudy” MEREDITH Docket 19-CR-10075- MLWConspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services wire fraud; honest services wire fraudInitial Appearance set for 3/28/2019 12:30 PM in Courtroom 24 before Magistrate Judge M. Page KelleyDistrict of Massachusetts
Mark RIDDELL 19-CR-10074-NMGConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud; conspiracy to commit money launderingWaiver of Indictment and Plea to Information hearing set for 4/12/2019 02:30 PM in Courtroom 4 before Judge Nathaniel M. GortonDistrict of Massachusetts
John VANDEMOER Docket: 19-cr-10079-RWZ


 
Conspiracy to commit racketeeringThe defendant pled guilty to all counts on 3/12/2019,  Sentencing is scheduled for June 12th, 2019 at 2:00 PM in courtroom 12 before Judge Zobel.  The defendant has been released on personal recognizance.District of Massachusetts


 
Charged by Indictment
DefendantChargesCase StatusU.S. District Court
Igor DVORSKIY 19-CR-10081- ITConspiracy to commit racketeering Central District of California 
Gordon ERNST 19-CR-10081- ITConspiracy to commit racketeering District of Maryland
William FERGUSON 19-CR-10081- ITConspiracy to commit racketeering Western District of North Carolina
Martin FOX 19-CR-10081- ITConspiracy to commit racketeering Southern District of Texas
Donna HEINEL 19-CR-10081- ITConspiracy to commit racketeering Central District of California 
Laura JANKE 19-CR-10081- ITConspiracy to commit racketeering Central District of California 
Ali KHOSROSHAHIN 19-CR-10081- ITConspiracy to commit racketeering Central District of California 
Steven MASERA 19-CR-10081- ITConspiracy to commit racketeering Eastern District of California
Jorge SALCEDO 19-CR-10081- ITConspiracy to commit racketeering Central District of California 
Mikaela SANFORD 19-CR-10081- ITConspiracy to commit racketeering Eastern District of California
David SIDOO 19-CR-10080- NMGConspracy to commit mail and wire fraud Northern District of California
Jovan VAVIC 19-CR-10081- ITConspiracy to commit racketeering Central District of California 
Niki WILLIAMS 19-CR-10081- ITConspiracy to commit racketeering Southern District of Texas


Charged by Complaint
DefendantChargesCase StatusU.S. District Court
Gregory ABBOTT 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Southern District of New York
Marcia ABBOTT 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Southern District of New York
Gamal ABDELAZIZ 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud District of Nevada
Diane BLAKE 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Northern District of California
Todd BLAKE 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Northern District of California
Jane BUCKINGHAM 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Central District of California 
Gordon CAPLAN 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud District of Connecticut
Michael CENTER 19-mj-06065-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraudInitial Appearance in this district set for 3/25/2019 03:15 PM in Courtroom 24 before Magistrate Judge M. Page KelleyDistrict of Massachusetts
I-Hsin “Joey” CHEN 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Central District of California 
Amy COLBURN 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Northern District of California
Gregory COLBURN 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Northern District of California
Robert FLAXMAN 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Central District of California 
Mossimo GIANNULLI 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Central District of California 
Elizabeth HENRIQUEZ 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Northern District of California
Manuel HENRIQUEZ 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Northern District of California
Douglas HODGE 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Central District of California 
Felicity HUFFMAN 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Central District of California 
Agustin HUNEEUS, Jr.  19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Northern District of California
Bruce ISACKSON 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Northern District of California
Davina ISACKSON 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Northern District of California
Michelle JANAVS 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Central District of California 
Elisabeth KIMMEL 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud District of Nevada
Marjorie KLAPPER 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Northern District of California
Lori LOUGHLIN 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Central District of California 
Toby MACFARLANE 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Southern District of California
William McGLASHAN 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Northern District of California
Marci PALATELLA 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Northern District of California
Peter Jan SARTORIO 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Northern District of California
Stephen SEMPREVIVO 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Central District of California 
Devin SLOANE 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Central District of California 
John WILSON 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Southern District of Texas
Homayoun ZADEH 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Central District of California 
Robert ZANGRILLO 19-mj-06087-MPKConspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Southern District of Florida

Found in Fraud.