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College scam mastermind Rick Singer gets 3.5 years in prison
Read full article: College scam mastermind Rick Singer gets 3.5 years in prisonThe mastermind of the nationwide college admissions bribery scheme that ensnared celebrities, prominent businesspeople and other parents has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison.
Ex-Yale coach gets 5 months in admissions bribery scandal
Read full article: Ex-Yale coach gets 5 months in admissions bribery scandalThe former Yale University women’s soccer coach whose cooperation with authorities helped blow the lid off the nationwide college admissions bribery scandal by leading the FBI to the scheme’s mastermind has been sentenced to five months in prison.
Ex-Georgetown coach gets 2 1/2 years in bribe scandal
Read full article: Ex-Georgetown coach gets 2 1/2 years in bribe scandalA former Georgetown University tennis coach has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for pocketing more than $3 million in bribes in exchange for helping wealthy parents cheat their kids’ way into the school.
Georgetown dad acquitted in final college bribery scam trial
Read full article: Georgetown dad acquitted in final college bribery scam trialA father has been acquitted of paying off a Georgetown University tennis coach to get his daughter into the school in the final trial linked to the college admissions bribery scandal.
Jury to decide USC coach's fate in college bribery trial
Read full article: Jury to decide USC coach's fate in college bribery trialThe fate of a decorated former water polo coach at the University of Southern California implicated in the sprawling college admissions bribery scandal is now in the hands of a jury.
'Varsity Blues' trial promises fresh insights in old scandal
Read full article: 'Varsity Blues' trial promises fresh insights in old scandalThe first trial of “Operation Varsity Blues” will begin this week with the potential to shed light on investigators’ tactics and brighten the spotlight on a college admissions process many complain favors the rich.
Ex-UCLA coach gets 8 months in prison for admissions scam
Read full article: Ex-UCLA coach gets 8 months in prison for admissions scamFILE - In this March 25, 2019, file photo Jorge Salcedo, former University of California at Los Angeles men's soccer coach, departs federal court in Boston after facing charges in a nationwide college admissions bribery scandal. AdSui was sentenced to time served last year after spending five months in a Spanish prison following her arrest. Salcedo is the third coach sentenced so far in the case. Michael Center, who was a tennis coach at the University of Texas at Austin, got six months while ex-Stanford sailing coach John Vandemoer got one day in prison which he was deemed to have already served. ____This story has been corrected to reflect that Salcedo was a coach at the University of California, Los Angeles not the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
'Operation Varsity Blues' reenacts and reorients a scandal
Read full article: 'Operation Varsity Blues' reenacts and reorients a scandalNEW YORK – Chris Smith didn’t initially think the 2019 college bribery scandal made for a good documentary subject. He was editing “Fyre,” the hit Netflix documentary about the music-festival fiasco, when his longtime collaborator, Jon Karmen, suggested another real tale of fraud and spectacle be their next film. By shifting the focus, Smith’s “Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admission Scandal,” which debuts Wednesday on Netflix, attempts to reorient center stage in a headline-grabbing drama that has already spawned one Lifetime movie. The documentary, like the scandal, has a dose of Hollywood. “One of the only people that got back to us was John Vandemoer.”Vandemoer, a Stanford University sailing coach, was the first person sentenced in the scandal.
New this week: 'Justice League,' 'Country Comfort' & scandal
Read full article: New this week: 'Justice League,' 'Country Comfort' & scandalThis combination of photos shows promotional art for the Netflix series Country Comfort, debuting on Friday, left, "Zack Snyders Justice League," premiering March 18, center, and Operation Varsity Blues, a documentary about the college admissions scandal, premiering March 17 on Netflix. (Netflix/HBO Max/Netflix via AP)Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIES— Four years after “Justice League” underwhelmed both critics and audiences, filmmaker Zack Snyder has come back to finish what he started. — Loretta Lynn’s new album is a celebration of women in country music and it features collaborations with Tanya Tucker, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire and Margo Price. — Katherine McPhee, of TV’s “American Idol” and “Smash,” plays an aspiring country singer, Bailey, who’s suffered career and personal setbacks in the Netflix series “Country Comfort,” debuting Friday.
Netflix doc to examine man behind college admissions scandal
Read full article: Netflix doc to examine man behind college admissions scandalThis image released by Netflix shows key art for Operation Varsity Blues, a documentary about the college admissions scandal, premiering March 17. (Netflix via AP)LOS ANGELES – A Netflix documentary will use actor recreations of FBI wiretaps to tell the story of Rick Singer, the man at the center of the college admissions scandal that sent actors Felicity Huffman, Lori Loughlin and and several other prominent parents to prison. Netflix announced Monday that “Operation Varsity Blues" will be released on March 17. More than 50 people were charged in the scandal that saw parents pay bribes to have someone cheat on their children’s entrance exams or pretend their kids were star athletes for sports they didn’t play. Singer pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and several other charges, and is expected to testify at defendants' trials.
Former exam administrator gets probation in bribery scheme
Read full article: Former exam administrator gets probation in bribery schemeFILE - In this March 25, 2019, file photo, former college entrance exam administrator Niki Williams of Houston, right, arrives at federal court in Boston to face charges in a nationwide college admissions bribery scandal. Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, after pleading guilty in September. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)BOSTON – A former college entrance exam administrator was sentenced on Monday to one year of probation for her role in the college admissions bribery scheme that has ensnared wealthy parents across the nation. Niki Williams, a former employee of the Houston Independent School District, pleaded guilty in September to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud and honest services wire fraud and mail fraud. Prosecutors requested a sentence of six months in prison, while Williams' attorney said prison was unwarranted.
Mossimo Giannulli reports to prison in college bribery case
Read full article: Mossimo Giannulli reports to prison in college bribery caseFILE - In this Aug. 27, 2019, file photo, Lori Loughlin departs federal court in Boston with her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, left, after a hearing in a nationwide college admissions bribery scandal. Giannulli has reported to prison to begin serving his five-month sentence for bribing his daughters way into college. Giannullis wife, Full House actor Lori Loughlin, is already behind bars for her role in the college admissions bribery scheme involving prominent parents and elite schools across the country. (AP Photo/Philip Marcelo, File)BOSTON – Fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli reported to prison on Thursday to begin serving his five-month sentence for bribing his daughters' way into college, officials said. Giannulli's wife, “Full House” actor Lori Loughlin, is already behind bars for her role in the college admissions bribery scheme involving prominent parents and elite schools across the country.
Former exam administrator pleads guilty in college scam
Read full article: Former exam administrator pleads guilty in college scamBOSTON – A former college entrance exam administrator pleaded guilty Friday to taking bribes to help wealthy parents rig their kids' test scores as part of a college admissions bribery scheme. Williams “regrets the harm she has caused her school, her students and the companies that trusted her," he lawyer said in an email. "While she has struggled through this difficult process, she is eager to move beyond it and start the next chapter of her life," attorney Eric Tennen said. Rick Singer, the admissions consultant, and Mark Riddell, who secretly took the exams for the students, have also pleaded guilty. Williams pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud and honest services wire fraud and mail fraud before a Boston federal court judge held via video because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Few parents, coaches still fighting charges in college scam
Read full article: Few parents, coaches still fighting charges in college scamJust 15 of the nearly 60 people charged in the sordid scheme that rocked the U.S. educational system are still fighting the charges. ___WHO'S LEFTOnly three coaches and 11 parents are still fighting the charges. Six coaches and nearly 30 parents have already agreed to admit to the charges. McGlashan has fiercely denied the charges and says he told Singer he didn't want to participate in the so-called side door scheme. Authorities say their investigation into the wide-ranging scheme is ongoing and charges against new parents keep trickling in.
Loughlin, Giannulli plead in college scam but await fate
Read full article: Loughlin, Giannulli plead in college scam but await fateUnder their proposed deals, Loughlin, 55, hopes to spend two months in prison and Giannulli, 56, is seeking to serve five months. Loughlin and Giannulli were among dozens of wealthy parents, athletic coaches and others charged last year in the bribery scheme. Prosecutors say they funneled money through a sham charity operated by college admissions consultant Rick Singer, who has pleaded guilty to orchestrating the scheme. Loughlin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. Giannulli pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud.