One of those indicted is Gordon Caplan, co-chair of the white shoe law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher. Pretty sure I know what the headline in tomorrow’s New York Law Journal is going to be. I’m sure there are plenty of other powerful people in the indictment. This is going to be a big story.
“It is no accident that no students were charged” - US Attorney
Now… let’s see if the schools themselves feel the same way in regards to expulsion.
@airway1: Donations could be considered to violate bribery laws if there was a quid pro quo (essentially a specific act or benefit in return for the donation).
$25 million dollars were funneled thru a charity set up by Singer which were then given as bribes and then he told the parents they could deduct the donation from their tax returns …so the IRS is involved too. Fake test scores sunpbmitted to BC, BU and NEU . investigation is on going. Students haven’t been charged yet but they could be depending.
Boston University and Northeastern University just mentioned …
University of Southern California is the first where an Admin was charged
Singer involved with both fake SAT test scores and the coaches/fake atheletic profiles.
The press conference is happening now live on CBS news https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/video/live-news-coverage-from-cbs-news/ar-BBmYvYY?appwebview=true
Apparently, the paid test taker would either take the test for the student or they would take the test after it was turned in and correct the answers.
Tidbits from the last few minutes of the conference: The schools themselves are not under investigation or being charged. Also (separately), the investigation continues and they expect to find additional targets.
Some parents spent up to 6 million dollars!
People are surprised. Why? The only surprise is that they were caught. All of the talk about “merit” here on CC focuses on the have nots, while the uber haves are never under scrutiny. Regardless of the outcome of this particular case, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Dude, if you have 6 million just give it direct to the school. Unless it’s HYP that’ll be enough to get your sprog in.
This is stunning. What an incredible racket. I’m amazed that coaches at elite universities would be unethical and just plain stupid enough to be involved in this. Can’t say I’m surprised that some parents would stoop so low. These kids were already so privileged - what a disgusting level of cheating.
I’m usually on Parent Cafe, but thought you’d like to read this. I just bought a Closer magazine last weekend and Felicity Huffman has a feature. In it she says talking about herself and hubby, “He’s very pragmatic and levelheaded, and I’m amoral and not levelheaded.” Another quote about work and family life: “I mainly fumble and drop things and make mistakes-I just F up all the time.” Yep.
I’m trying to figure out how someone got the tests after they were turned in, to change the answers???
So the ringleader had the proctor change the answers for Felicity Huffman’s daughter SAT, raising it 400 points to a 1420? That score isn’t exactly going to get her in an Ivy League school!
^^I think some proctors were in on it.
As a person long familiar with Boston schools, I’m just amazed that you have to bribe your way into Northeastern!
A 1420 could get a top athletic recruit in.
The “affidavit in support of criminal complaints” has a lot of details about the individual charges against the parents:
https://www.justice.gov/file/1142876/download
Sometimes the pesky GCs would interfere:" Water polo? We don’t have water polo!"