Nationwide College Cheating Scandal - Actresses, Business Owners Charged, Mar 2019 - #2

[kaen]

I looked. It's for the District of MA but the indictment stated one of the colleges was in MA. They don't state which in the beginning of the doc. I'm assuming Harvard?

From Wikipedia on the scandal: "An alumnus of Yale, he told authorities that the Yale women's soccer head coach, Rudolph "Rudy" Meredith, had asked him for $450,000 in exchange for helping his youngest daughter gain admission to the school.[17] As part of his cooperation with the FBI, Tobin wore a recording device while talking to Meredith in a Boston hotel on April 12, 2018; Meredith subsequently agreed to cooperate with the authorities and led them to Singer.[18][19] Meredith pled guilty as part of his cooperation with the prosecution.[18][17] Tobin has not been charged in this case, but in February 2019 he pled guilty in the unrelated securities fraud case."

BBM. I think that the meeting between the Yale coach (Meredith) and Tobin (the securities fraud guy who turned in Merideth) happened in Boston. So I would imagine that the DA in Boston became the investigating office.

 

[scdiv]

What b.s. And ignorance of the law is no defense. But good try, people.

If anything, it just shows the level of entitlement. I do believe that they didn't think this was a big deal. That doesn't make it any kind of legal defense! I think in Lori's world, it's just no big deal to pay for whatever it is you want. If a few little rules and procedures get bent, no big deal. That's for the silly rule following plebeians.

If you are affluent, just write the check and some hired fixer person takes care of all those little pesky, illegal details. I said this in another post, but I tend to think she put this in the same kind of "harmless" category as getting access to Super Bowl tickets or first row seats for fashion week or moving up on a waitlist for the latest exclusive Birkin bag. There must have been chatter in their circles that someone's "got a guy" with a "side door" who can get your kid into whatever school you want. You write the check and presto, he makes it happen. Maybe a little photoshopped pic. Whatevs. Easy breezy. I think she actually is quite shocked that this is so criminal and all.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Is Lori Loughlin Moving Out of Her California Mansion?

Movers have been photographed taking furniture out of Lori Loughlin's Bel Air, California, mansion.

Movers were spotted Monday carrying out a white couch and a lounger, leading to speculation that the actress could be leaving her $35 million mansion after pleading not guilty in the college admissions scandal...

ETA: Looks like Daily Mail got the moving scoop, too.

Lori Loughlin has furniture removed from her mansion as she pleads not guilty in bribery scandal | Daily Mail Online

 

[kaen]

But Yale is in Connecticut?

Others might know better than me. Connecticut has its own US District Attorney's Office (United States Attorney - Wikipedia). I would imagine that the initial crime happened in MA which led to the greater investigation (Tobin talking to Merideth to get off of the securities fraud charges). I also think I recall that Singer was in MA when he called the people to tell them he was being investigated.

 

[human]

Years ago a make friend of ours got into Yale, He had a scholarship at Philips Exeter in high school.

He is white and both his parents were public school teachers.

He left after one quarter or semester there. Not sure what the system was then.

The students there would go to the Hamptons or fly off ot Bermuda for the weekend, He did not fit in.

The really rich live lives that are so different from the rest of us.

Can you imagine being a poor student?

So many issues to bear

 

[JerseyGirl]

I've been watching college acceptance videos on youtube (ok, I'm a little obsessed about the whole college application process, I watch them every year, both my daughters - who have since graduated college - said I should have been a college admissions counselor since I helped steer them in finding their safety, match and reach schools (they did not have any help from HS counselors who were bombarded with other students and other issues) and made them take both the ACT and SAT more than once - hey, they could do better, was my thought).

Anyway, every young adult who applied to USC and was denied said "that's ok, my parents didn't pay $500,000 to bribe my way in." No other school, Yale, Georgetown, etc. received this response when denied. I was surprised at how this scam at USC hit a nerve in each of these kids.

 

[JerseyGirl]

The title of this article made me chuckle, gotta love the sources:

Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli Are 'Outraged' That They're Being Called 'Cheaters': Source

“This is putting unspeakable stress on her and her family,” a source close to Loughlin tells PEOPLE. “They’re having to play this all out publicly, and they’re fair game for jokes and memes, but also outraged [by] people who are saying that they are cheaters.”

“They’re being destroyed,” the source adds.

“The idea of going to trial is terrifying for Lori,” says the source close to the actress. “Everything comes out in trial, whether or not it’s relevant to the case. She will be under a microscope, and you only have to look at the paparazzi outside the court to know that there is widespread interest in this case. She will lose every bit of her privacy, and that’s a shame. This really is a family matter.”

“They decided to roll the dice,” the source told PEOPLE last week about their decision to reject the plea deal, “and it may have been a bad gamble. Now they’re in worse shape than before.”
___

ahh, this is a "legal" source, could her lawyers be leaking info to sway the public:

Lori Loughlin 'Is Very Afraid That Her Daughters Will Have to Testify’ If She Goes to Trial: Source

“Lori is very concerned about what a trial will do to her daughters,” says the legal source. “It will undermine every accomplishment they have in the future and it will be part of their story forever.”

“It’s not in their best interest for this to go to trial, and Lori knows it. Because if it goes to trial, the girls will have to take the stand, and be cross examined by a prosecution that wants nothing more than to put a notch on their belt,” says the legal source.

The source adds, “Lori is very afraid that her daughters will have to testify. That will traumatize them even more.”

“She will continue to make a good faith effort to put this case behind her,” says the legal source, “and she hopes the prosecutors will do the same.”

 

[JerseyGirl]

I love the Daily Mail:

Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli wearing Gucci loafers to church | Daily Mail Online

 

[Inthedetails]

I love the Daily Mail:

Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli wearing Gucci loafers to church | Daily Mail Online

Ugh to the photo op outside of Palm Sunday services....but also interesting in the body language - they are perfectly in sync with matching outfits, matching movements, matching smiles, turned toward each other.

I'll give them that - they are a united front as a couple facing charges.

But ugh. Looks like they are using church for PR as I doubt photographers were there without a tip.

jmo

 

[neesaki]

I love the Daily Mail:

Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli wearing Gucci loafers to church | Daily Mail Online

Well, a confession would certainly not hurt.

 

[Herat]

The title of this article made me chuckle, gotta love the sources:

Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli Are 'Outraged' That They're Being Called 'Cheaters': Source

“This is putting unspeakable stress on her and her family,” a source close to Loughlin tells PEOPLE. “They’re having to play this all out publicly, and they’re fair game for jokes and memes, but also outraged [by] people who are saying that they are cheaters.”

“They’re being destroyed,” the source adds.

“The idea of going to trial is terrifying for Lori,” says the source close to the actress. “Everything comes out in trial, whether or not it’s relevant to the case. She will be under a microscope, and you only have to look at the paparazzi outside the court to know that there is widespread interest in this case. She will lose every bit of her privacy, and that’s a shame. This really is a family matter.”

“They decided to roll the dice,” the source told PEOPLE last week about their decision to reject the plea deal, “and it may have been a bad gamble. Now they’re in worse shape than before.”
___

ahh, this is a "legal" source, could her lawyers be leaking info to sway the public:

Lori Loughlin 'Is Very Afraid That Her Daughters Will Have to Testify’ If She Goes to Trial: Source

“Lori is very concerned about what a trial will do to her daughters,” says the legal source. “It will undermine every accomplishment they have in the future and it will be part of their story forever.”

“It’s not in their best interest for this to go to trial, and Lori knows it. Because if it goes to trial, the girls will have to take the stand, and be cross examined by a prosecution that wants nothing more than to put a notch on their belt,” says the legal source.

The source adds, “Lori is very afraid that her daughters will have to testify. That will traumatize them even more.”

“She will continue to make a good faith effort to put this case behind her,” says the legal source, “and she hopes the prosecutors will do the same.”

HYPOCRITES with a capital H

They had n0 problem allowing OJ to be portrayed as a vapid entitled teen who scoffed at education and openly described her feelings about college as a drinking establishment. They had no problem when she didn't even attend the first week of her USC classes, instead flying to Fiji to film a promotion video about luxurious beach retreats and, guess what, clothing and stuff. They had no problem falsely posing her on a rowing machine to intentionally cooperate in the scam to get her entered under false pretenses.

Lori should be very aware her daughters have already been exposed, even before the trial.

I really despise this pathetic act. These parents, and their daughters are criminals and frauds.

Throw the book at them.

 

[Herat]

The title of this article made me chuckle, gotta love the sources:

Because if it goes to trial, the girls will have to take the stand, and be cross examined by a prosecution that wants nothing more than to put a notch on their belt,” says the legal source.

Ah, I see - Blame it on the Prosecutors.

Oldest trick in the book. Deflect, deflect, deflect

You do the crime, you pay the time.

 

[JerseyGirl]

"Lori doesn't understand why she's getting so much criticism for pleading not guilty," the source said. "People must not realize that she had no choice. The plea deal has been taken off the table, and this is the only way they've been told she and Mossimo can avoid jail time and get another plea (deal). They are hoping justice will prevail."

However, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation said that neither Loughlin nor her husband have engaged in substantial plea discussions. And the same source has said prosecutors will be seeking jail time for every defendant, regardless of their plea.

"(Lori) is hoping she can move past this and get back to work and doing what she loves," the source said.

Lori Loughlin felt she had 'no choice' but to plead not guilty - CNN

 

[JerseyGirl]

These 17 parents were charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and honest services mail and wire fraud, as well as money laundering conspiracy. They have entered not guilty pleas:

Not Guilty pleas:
1. Gregory Colburn (in court March 4)
2. Amy Colburn (in court March 4)
3. David Sidoo (via court filing April 12)
4. Robert Zangrillo (via court filing April 12)
5. Elisabeth Kimmel (via court filing April 12)
6. Homayoun Zadeh (via court filing April 12)
7. John Wilson (via court filing April 12)
8. I-Hsin "Joey" Chen (via court filing April 12)
9. Gamal Abdelaziz (via court filing April 14)
10. Diane Blake (via court filing April 15)
11. Todd Blake (via court filing April 15)
12. William McGlashan (via court filing April 15)
13. Mossimo Giannulli (via court filing April 15)
14. Lori Loughlin (via court filing April 15)
15. Marci Palatella (via court filing April 15)
16. Douglas Hodge (via court filing April 15)
17. Michelle Janavs (via court filing April 15)
18. Manuel Henriquez
19. Elizabeth Henriquez

These 12 parents were charged by information with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. They have agreed to plead guilty pursuant to plea agreements.

Guilty Pleas:
1. Gregory Abbott
2. Marcia Abbott
3. Jane Buckingham
4. Gordon Caplan
5. Robert Flaxman
6. Felicity Huffman
7. Agustin Huneeus Jr.
8. Marjorie Klapper
9. Peter Jan Sartorio
10. Stephen Semprevivo
11. Devin Sloane
12. Davina Isackson (charged by separate information along with her husband)
13. Bruce Isackson (charged by separate information along with his wife)

In addition, one parent was charged by information with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud, as well as one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to defraud the IRS. He has agreed to plead guilty.

Hasn't Pleaded yet:
Toby MacFarlane was charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud and has not yet pleaded. In a joint motion, prosecutors and MacFarlane requested a continuance of time and acknowledged they are "engaged in plea discussions and believe that Defendant will most likely plead guilty pre-indictment." They asked for an extension of time to indict until April 25 to allow the parties to meet and negotiate a potential resolution.

Here's how the 33 wealthy parents have responded to the college admissions scam - CNN

I think the one parent not mentioned (listed as in addition) is the $6.5 million Yale parent.

 

[maggieg]

Lori Loughlin's DAUGHTER under criminal investigation in college admissions scandal | Daily Mail Online

Lori Loughlin's DAUGHTER is under criminal investigation in college admissions scandal, with prosecutors launching probe to see what she knew about her parents' faux-crew coup

• One of Lori Loughlin's daughters received a target letter from the Department of Justice announcing that she was the subject of a criminal probe
• The sources DailyMail.com spoke with only knew about one of the daughters getting a letter, the tone of which was described as 'ominous'
• The 'DOJ is making it pretty clear that they have evidence that very strongly suggests she knew of the illegal plot' said another source

"These latest target letters seem be less concerned with gathering information in the case said that source, who described the notes as 'warning shots' to the students.
'It is clear that some students are going to be charged,' said the first source.
That individual then added that they know five people who have received letters similar to Loughlin's daughter, noting that in all five cases the parent/s refused a plea deal and later filed a plea of not guilty."

 

[Inthedetails]

"Lori doesn't understand why she's getting so much criticism for pleading not guilty," the source said. "People must not realize that she had no choice. The plea deal has been taken off the table, and this is the only way they've been told she and Mossimo can avoid jail time and get another plea (deal). They are hoping justice will prevail."

However, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation said that neither Loughlin nor her husband have engaged in substantial plea discussions. And the same source has said prosecutors will be seeking jail time for every defendant, regardless of their plea.

"(Lori) is hoping she can move past this and get back to work and doing what she loves," the source said.

Lori Loughlin felt she had 'no choice' but to plead not guilty - CNN

Whatever, Lori.

"Your sources" sure have a lot to say about you. Could the source have the initials LL?

jmo

 

[JerseyGirl]

Some arguments coming in:

A Palo Alto couple accused of paying $25,000 to rig their son’s college entrance exam asked a federal judge this week to dismiss the indictment against them, claiming there was no conspiracy among the parents entangled in the college admissions scandal. Their defense attorney, David S. Schumacher, argued in the motion that even if it were true that his clients paid a test proctor to correct their son’s SAT exam, as authorities have alleged, they did not act in concert with other parents. In that case, Schumacher said, prosecutors don’t have the legal ground to support the conspiracy charge.

____

Bill McGlashan, the former managing partner of San Francisco-based TPG Growth, is fighting allegations he discussed a $200,000 bribe with an athletic administrator to get his son into USC. His attorneys argued that their client differed from other parents caught up in the scandal. McGlashan, who has pleaded not guilty, says he paid Singer $50,000 for legitimate college counseling services for his son.

For Lori Loughlin, ‘parenting on steroids’ could be defense in college admissions scandal

 

[cluciano63]

Just shows that even rich people get really bad legal advice...and are likely paying a lot for it.

A “family matter” is not approving of a boyfriend/girlfriend, or choosing to home school, etc...this is a “criminal matter”, i.e laws were broken, illegal things were done (allegedly).

I really think her brain is warped by Hallmark-style endings...she thinks it’s all a movie of the week/woman in jeopardy storyline, where she will be the heroine in the end...

Gotta love the DM when they go after stupid rich people.

 

[JerseyGirl]

On Wednesday, a link to an Instagram account, which belonged to Isabella Giannulli, who went by @Bella on the site, displayed a message that the link was either broken or the page had been removed. Prior to the account's disappearance, angry comments hounded Giannulli on her Instagram.

Giannulli's sister, who goes by Olivia Jade on Instagram and is considered an "influencer" on the site, still had her account online as of Wednesday morning but comments for the page had been disabled and her last update was posted approximately six weeks ago.

Lori Loughlin's daughter's Instagram account off site

Us Weekly reported at the end of March that Olivia has been on Instagram, sharing updates to her friends only."Olivia is posting private Stories on her Instagram, using the only-close-friends option, to share her days on social media with her close circle," the source said.

Lori Loughlin's Daughter Bella Giannulli Deleted Her Instagram - Lori Afraid Daughters Will Have to Testify

 

[kaen]

I looked. It's for the District of MA but the indictment stated one of the colleges was in MA. They don't state which in the beginning of the doc. I'm assuming Harvard?

The former Georgetown Tennis Coach Ernst had been at University of Rhode Island. I am trying to find info on the MA school as well.

ETA:
"On Tuesday, court records unsealed in Boston revealed that 50 individuals, including actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, had been indicted in a nationwide college admissions bribery scam. Parents reportedly paid up to $6 million — which is even more than the current balance on your student loans — to gain their children admission into the country's top universities, including Yale, Stanford, Georgetown, Wake Forest, the University of Texas, Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern University, and the University of Southern California."
From: What "Operation Varsity Blues" really tells us about wealth and brains