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TV actresses among 50 people charged in college exam cheating plot
Authorities said the FBI investigation, code named Operation Varsity Blues, uncovered a network of wealthy parents who paid thousands of dollars to a California man who boosted their childrens' chances of gaining entrance into elite colleges, such as Yale and Stanford, by paying people to take tests for their children, bribing test administrators to allow it to happen, and bribing college coaches and administrators to identify the applicants as athletes.
"This case is about the widening corruption of elite college admissions through the steady application of wealth, combined with fraud," said U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew Lelling.
"There can be no separate college admission for wealthy, and I will add there will not be a separate criminal justice system either."
Loughlin, best known for her role in the sitcom "Full House," and Huffman, who starred in the ABC hit show "Desperate Housewives," were charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services fraud.
The FBI recorded phone calls involving the celebrities and a cooperating witness, according to the criminal complaint. Elizabeth Much, a representative for Loughlin, told NBC News she had no comment. A rep for Huffman did not immediately return requests for comment.
[...]
In all, 49 people were charged thus far, including 33 parents and nine college coaches.
"We believe everyone charged here today had a role in fostering a culture of corruption and greed that created an uneven playing field for students trying to get into these schools the right way through hard work, good grades and community service," said John Bonavolonta, FBI special agent in charge.
Prosecutors said the scheme was masterminded by William Rick Singer, the founder of a for-profit college preparation business based in Newport Beach, California.
Parents paid Singer between $15,000 and $75,000 per test for someone else to take the SAT or ACT exams in place of their college-aged sons or daughters, according to the court papers.
ETA: Years ago a college prep business solicited "additional fees" from coworker for promise of extended time for her diagnosed learning disabled son to take SAT/ACT exams. Good he thought to ask school's guidance counselor before falling victim to the "surcharge" scam. Above report is obviously fraud on a grand scale but I believe variations have long been around-- and not to be confused with "pay for play" or alumnae private donor memorandums.
Authorities said the FBI investigation, code named Operation Varsity Blues, uncovered a network of wealthy parents who paid thousands of dollars to a California man who boosted their childrens' chances of gaining entrance into elite colleges, such as Yale and Stanford, by paying people to take tests for their children, bribing test administrators to allow it to happen, and bribing college coaches and administrators to identify the applicants as athletes.
"This case is about the widening corruption of elite college admissions through the steady application of wealth, combined with fraud," said U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew Lelling.
"There can be no separate college admission for wealthy, and I will add there will not be a separate criminal justice system either."
Loughlin, best known for her role in the sitcom "Full House," and Huffman, who starred in the ABC hit show "Desperate Housewives," were charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services fraud.
The FBI recorded phone calls involving the celebrities and a cooperating witness, according to the criminal complaint. Elizabeth Much, a representative for Loughlin, told NBC News she had no comment. A rep for Huffman did not immediately return requests for comment.
[...]
In all, 49 people were charged thus far, including 33 parents and nine college coaches.
"We believe everyone charged here today had a role in fostering a culture of corruption and greed that created an uneven playing field for students trying to get into these schools the right way through hard work, good grades and community service," said John Bonavolonta, FBI special agent in charge.
Prosecutors said the scheme was masterminded by William Rick Singer, the founder of a for-profit college preparation business based in Newport Beach, California.
Parents paid Singer between $15,000 and $75,000 per test for someone else to take the SAT or ACT exams in place of their college-aged sons or daughters, according to the court papers.
ETA: Years ago a college prep business solicited "additional fees" from coworker for promise of extended time for her diagnosed learning disabled son to take SAT/ACT exams. Good he thought to ask school's guidance counselor before falling victim to the "surcharge" scam. Above report is obviously fraud on a grand scale but I believe variations have long been around-- and not to be confused with "pay for play" or alumnae private donor memorandums.
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