Nationwide College Cheating Scandal - Actresses, Business Owners Charged, Mar 2019 - #3

[Laughing]

Oh for Pete’s sake! Restitution is not about race. This scam impacted admissions & scholarships for all students working their arses off in pursuit of admission/scholarship.

State legislatures use The College Board’s statistics each year to set threshold SAT/ACT scores needed for different levels of state funded scholarships. In FL, in 2017, there were 2 levels of funding, approx 3K or 10K- per year- depending on that score. For those kids a couple points away from the 10K biggie, the cheaters who skewed The College Board stats likely cost those families 28K towards a 4 year degree.

It goes beyond state scholarships. Most private scholarships are also awarded in whole, or in part, by that score. This cheating screwed everybody, regardless of race. MOO

Everybody for years & years, because the cheater's inflated scores are still in the equations & will be!

Just disgusting all around.

Kudos to Ms. Huffman for at least acting like a real grown-up once her actions were uncovered.


JMHO YMMV MOOOOO

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Felicity Huffman Was On The Receiving End Of Some Ice Cold Shade At The Emmys

"The producers have asked me to give a special shout-out to any of our previous lead actress winners who are watching tonight from prison," he said. "Hopefully those two weeks are going to fly right by. Keep your chin up."

 

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Prosecutors in college admissions scandal fighting for prison time for parents

Prosecutors in college admissions scandal fighting for prison time for parents

some highlights...

Prison sentences for parents who admitted to taking part in the scheme would not be based on how much money they paid to take part in the scam, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani ruled.

The prosecution doubled down after their defeat. In an effort to salvage the prison sentences they maintain are warranted in the case, they are trying a new tack.

Rather than staking the rationale for incarceration to the five- and six-figure sums parents paid to access the bribery and cheating operation run by college admissions consultant William “Rick” Singer, the government wants Talwani to punish them for the deviousness and audaciousness of their crimes.

Under the new approach put forth in court papers filed by Assistant U.S. Atty. Eric Rosen, parents who took elaborate, deliberate steps to sneak their kids into a school or tried to cover their tracks afterward would be more culpable than someone who simply wrote Singer a check.

...

Up first is Devin Sloane, an executive at a water technology company who has admitted paying Singer and an alleged accomplice $250,000 to get his son into USC by misrepresenting the teen as a talented water polo player who deserved a spot on the school’s team.

Before Talwani made her ruling, Rosen asked the judge to sentence Sloane to one year in prison.

 

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Devin Sloane is up for sentencing in court today. The first parent who pleaded guilty, so maybe the judge will take that into consideration?

Lawyers for Devin Sloane, who admitted to paying $250K to get his son into USC as a fake athlete, recommend 3 years of supervised release, a fine and 2,000 hours of community service

Sentencing Set for L.A. Water Company Exec Who Paid $250K to Get Son Into USC as Fake Athlete

Article shows the email from the graphic designer that Sloane actually hired to photoshop his son as a water polo athlete.

 

[JudgeJoe]

Prosecutors in college admissions scandal fighting for prison time for parents

Prosecutors in college admissions scandal fighting for prison time for parents

some highlights...

Prison sentences for parents who admitted to taking part in the scheme would not be based on how much money they paid to take part in the scam, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani ruled.

The prosecution doubled down after their defeat. In an effort to salvage the prison sentences they maintain are warranted in the case, they are trying a new tack.

Rather than staking the rationale for incarceration to the five- and six-figure sums parents paid to access the bribery and cheating operation run by college admissions consultant William “Rick” Singer, the government wants Talwani to punish them for the deviousness and audaciousness of their crimes.

Under the new approach put forth in court papers filed by Assistant U.S. Atty. Eric Rosen, parents who took elaborate, deliberate steps to sneak their kids into a school or tried to cover their tracks afterward would be more culpable than someone who simply wrote Singer a check.

...

Up first is Devin Sloane, an executive at a water technology company who has admitted paying Singer and an alleged accomplice $250,000 to get his son into USC by misrepresenting the teen as a talented water polo player who deserved a spot on the school’s team.

Before Talwani made her ruling, Rosen asked the judge to sentence Sloane to one year in prison.

Devin Sloane is up for sentencing in court today. The first parent who pleaded guilty, so maybe the judge will take that into consideration?

Lawyers for Devin Sloane, who admitted to paying $250K to get his son into USC as a fake athlete, recommend 3 years of supervised release, a fine and 2,000 hours of community service

Sentencing Set for L.A. Water Company Exec Who Paid $250K to Get Son Into USC as Fake Athlete

Article shows the email from the graphic designer that Sloane actually hired to photoshop his son as a water polo athlete.

I really hope Prosecutor Rosen is at the top of his game today- and that Judge Talwani truly gets how serious this is for those who don’t photoshop & bribe their kids’ way into college...

From the article about “fighting for prison time”:

Prosecutor Rosen argues that a year in prison is the appropriate penalty... pointing out Sloane’s “moral indifference during the fraud, and his lack of remorse afterward”... for “dressing up his son as a water polo player in gear he purchased online and taking photos of him in the family’s backyard pool... then hired a graphic designer to digitally manipulate the image to make it appear as if the teen was playing in a real water polo match”- demonstrating the father’s “breathtaking disregard for basic principles of good parenting and common decency”- underscoring Sloane’s decision to involve his son in the fraud.

Rosen also revived the idea that the size of Sloane’s payment should have some bearing on his sentence, despite Talwani’s ruling. He wrote that while the $250,000 sum is “an imperfect measure of blameworthiness,” it still amounted to an “indication, however rough, of the lengths he was willing to go to obtain the illegal fruits of a fraud scheme.”

 

[JerseyGirl]

Devin Sloane is up for sentencing in court today. The first parent who pleaded guilty, so maybe the judge will take that into consideration?

Lawyers for Devin Sloane, who admitted to paying $250K to get his son into USC as a fake athlete, recommend 3 years of supervised release, a fine and 2,000 hours of community service

Sentencing Set for L.A. Water Company Exec Who Paid $250K to Get Son Into USC as Fake Athlete

Article shows the email from the graphic designer that Sloane actually hired to photoshop his son as a water polo athlete.

Federal prosecutors recommend Sloane, 53, receive one year and a day in prison in addition to a $75,000 fine and 12 months of supervised release. But Sloane's lawyers say he should be sentenced 2,000 hours community service instead of prison, and propose he launch and oversee a new Special Olympics initiative at independent schools.

Authorities say Sloane helped fabricate documents portraying his son as a water polo star even though he had never played the sport.

Sloane says he wanted to help his son but "failed miserably" by going too far.

USC college admissions scandal: Dad faces prison for paying $250K

CEO to be sentenced for role in admissions bribery scheme

His defense team recounted Sloane's upbringing in a dysfunctional family, raised in poverty by a single mother and a verbally and emotionally abusive stepfather. They said he "persevered through hard work and 14-hour days" to lead multiple businesses in the car wash, oil and gas, and water fields more than 35 years. Each endeavor, they said, was "with an eye toward looking out for the welfare of others."

They also pointed to his record of community service, including sponsoring the entire 157-member Italian Special Olympics team in Los Angeles — hence, his Special Olympics sentencing proposal.

 

[JerseyGirl]

The college admissions case continues Thursday in Boston federal court when Stephen Semprevivo, a former executive at Cydcor, is scheduled to be sentenced. Semprevivo has admitted to paying $400,000 for his son to be admitted into Georgetown University as a fake tennis recruit.

Dad faces sentencing for paying $250K to get son into USC as fake water polo recruit

 

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His defense team recounted Sloane's upbringing in a dysfunctional family, raised in poverty by a single mother and a verbally and emotionally abusive stepfather. They said he "persevered through hard work and 14-hour days" to lead multiple businesses in the car wash, oil and gas, and water fields more than 35 years. Each endeavor, they said, was "with an eye toward looking out for the welfare of others."

They also pointed to his record of community service, including sponsoring the entire 157-member Italian Special Olympics team in Los Angeles — hence, his Special Olympics sentencing proposal.

Yes, definitely give him leniency because he grew up in a family that didn't partake in fun family cupcake fights. Lots of people have less than ideal childhoods and don't go on to commit felonies. Especially when they now have the means and the resources to not do things out of desperation.

Maybe these sob story type letters will work with a judge? I feel like a jury would have a harder time finding sympathy as it relates to this particular case and might actually be turned off. jmo.

 

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Scott MacEachern (@smaceachernNBC) | Twitter

Devin Sloane - second parent to be sentenced in connection with the Boston Admissions Scandal - in court at 230p - @CConnNBCBoston in courtroom tweeting the latest

Live updates here:

Caroline Connolly - reporter for NBC Boston

Caroline Connolly (@CConnNBCBoston) | Twitter

 

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Caroline Connolly on Twitter
And now, they’re going to great lengths to show how Sloane’s case is more serious than Huffman’s. Prosecution: Huffman kept her child out of the crime. The defendant literally threw his son in the pool.

Caroline Connolly on Twitter
Prosecution: Since getting caught Huffman has owned her criminal activity, while the defendant acts like a victim

 

[JerseyGirl]

Caroline Connolly
Sloane’s attorney objects to something Rosen says regarding material under seal. It seems like this pertains to a motion Sloane filed to have a closed hearing regarding a medical concern. The judge denied motion

 

[JerseyGirl]

earlier:

Caroline Connolly
@CConnNBCBoston

Prosecutor Eric Rosen just began his argument for sentencing with this very moment. “Imagine the direction the defendant provided to his own son...” This is the photo they ultimately used for admission to USC.

Caroline Connolly
@CConnNBCBoston

When Sloane emailed this photo, even Singer didn’t think they could get away with it for the scam. Singer wrote, “Yes but a little high out of the water- no one gets that high.”

Caroline Connolly on Twitter

Caroline Connolly
@CConnNBCBoston

As part of this scam, Sloane bought water polo equipment on Amazon, staged photos of his son in a pool and then hired a graphic designer to make it appear as though he was playing a match. #CollegeAdmissionScandal Here is what that looked like:

 

[JerseyGirl]

Caroline Connolly
@CConnNBCBoston

We are still in sidebar. Here are some other highlights from Rosen’s argument: “...Missing is the acknowledgment that he stole an admissions spot from another deserving candidate. Some kid out there did not get to go to USC because of the defendant.”


3m

FWIW—While many courtrooms put on white noise during sidebar, Judge Talwani’s is playing from a selection of classical music.


1m

So, a big problem for prosecutors in this case is that Judge Talwani is viewing the “loss” to USC and other schools as zero. That means the sentencing guidelines for these defendants come in at 0-6 months.


1m

In his plea, Sloane agreed to a higher sentence guideline that prosecutors wanted. But the judge can decide whatever she wants.

 

[Suglo]

earlier:

Caroline Connolly
@CConnNBCBoston

Prosecutor Eric Rosen just began his argument for sentencing with this very moment. “Imagine the direction the defendant provided to his own son...” This is the photo they ultimately used for admission to USC.

Caroline Connolly
@CConnNBCBoston

When Sloane emailed this photo, even Singer didn’t think they could get away with it for the scam. Singer wrote, “Yes but a little high out of the water- no one gets that high.”

Caroline Connolly on Twitter

Caroline Connolly
@CConnNBCBoston

As part of this scam, Sloane bought water polo equipment on Amazon, staged photos of his son in a pool and then hired a graphic designer to make it appear as though he was playing a match. #CollegeAdmissionScandal Here is what that looked like:

My daughter played waterpolo in HS. That second photo is ridiculous. The players are constantly doing the egg beater with their legs as they are in deep water the whole time - nothing to push off of when they throw the ball.

 

[whitelilac]

Thank you for the twitter link @JerseyGirl
The fact that Huffman was very contrite, did have an effect on her sentence. Judge Talwani brought it up.
Seems Sloane has not expressed the same.
I expect longer jail time for this man.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Caroline Connolly
@CConnNBCBoston
·
11m
Defense is up and Judge Talwani is already pressing them on one of their sentence recommendations—-2,000 hours of community service.

11m
Judge: Why is it punitive to engage in community service? Defense: It basically means that you’re going to have a second job.

9m
Judge: He’s engaged in all aspects of community service...now you’re saying I should order him to do more of that as his punishment.


7m
We saw this kind of pushback from Judge Talwani with Huffman, who also already did considerable community service. “I think it’s a good part of rehabilitation, I don’t really see it as punishment.”

 

[JerseyGirl]

5m

Part of Sloane’s community service would go to help “independent school children,” aka kids in private school. This was Judge Talwani’s response to that: “I don’t think independent school children is the focus of this case. That’s about as tone deaf I’ve heard.”


4m

After a tense back and forth with judge, the defense has continued with their argument.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Justin Dougherty
@DoughertyJC
2m
Defense: “Mr. Sloane is a good man who made a mistake.” Attorney is now going through Sloane’s “tough background” as a child. #collegeadmissionsscandal #7News

Kirk Carapezza
@KirkCarapezza
4m
The defense has pivoted and is now saying Devin Sloane only committed a crime because Rick Singer invited him to. “Mr. Sloane is a good man who made a mistake.”

 

[JerseyGirl]

@DoughertyJC
22m
Judge is growing more irritated w/defense. Defense argued Sloane “didn’t know how the messy details worked out at USC,” but he only “knowingly bribed a USC official.” Judge feels defense is trying to argue that this was a victimless crime.

 

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Chris Villani on Twitter

#Breaking Varsity Blues parent Devin Sloane is sentenced to 4 months in prison, 500 hours of community service over 2 years of supervised release & a $95,000 fine.