Fifteen parents accused of scamming the system in the largest college admissions fraud in US history have made their first appearances in Federal court in Boston today.
Thirty-three parents have been charged with taking part in the scheme and today’s appearances – the first made by parents in this state - came just one day after the coach whose corrupt conduct sparked the investigation, Operation Varsity Blues, pleaded guilty to accepting bribes for faking athletic profiles and guaranteeing applicants with little or no athletic prowess admission as team recruits.
All of the parents who appeared before Judge M Page Kelley today are charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud. All waived their right to any preliminary hearing and are expected to enter pleas of not guilty.
The accused are Gregory, 68, and Marcia Abbott, 59, Gamal Abdelaziz, 62, I-Hsin Chen, 64, Robert Flaxman, 62, Agustin Huneeus Jr, 53, Elisabeth Kimmel, 54, Michelle Janavs, 47, William McGlashan Jr, 55, Stephen Semprevivo, 53, Diane, 55, and Todd Blake, 53, Marjorie Klapper, 50, Marci Palatella, 63, and Robert Zangrillo, 52.
They come from both the East and West coasts. They number CEOs in real estate and finance, a vineyard owner, company directors and founders, investors, power players in shipping, manufacturing, media and gaming.
In any other context the list might sound illustrious.
Elisabeth Kimmell is one of the 15 parents in the college admissions scheme who are appearing in Federal court today in Boston. The former San Diego media executive is pictured arriving to the court house
New York food and beverage distributor Gregory Abbott is pictured arriving to Federal court for his initial appearance in the college bribery scheme
Michelle Janavs (left) and Marci Palatella are also appearing in court Friday with 13 other parents. They are just the first of the 33 parents charged in the scheme to have their day in court
For the most part proceedings were muted and businesslike. Bonds set in other states remained unchanged, travel restrictions were negotiated to allow business travel with prior warning and the surrendering of passports in between, and those who possessed firearms were told to removed them from their houses as a condition of their release.
The hearing for the first seven, due to start at midday was, the Judge apologized, delayed until 12.15 because the Chinese interpreter for Chen was having trouble parking. In a wry aside she noted, ‘Which doesn’t surprise me at all.’
Flaxman, dressed in suit and leather sneakers, chewed gum throughout. Chen stood out from the crowd in a bright yellow puffa vest.
Only Abdelaziz’s attorney put up any sort of robust display. In requesting that his client be permitted to make a planned business trip to Mexico in April.
Addressing the court Brian T Kelly dismissed the charges against his client saying, ‘It is not a strong case it’s a one witness case - witness Rick Singer who is deeply compromised.’
‘He has ever intention of coming back and fighting these charges. This is a winnable case and my client will fight it and win it.’
Kelly also disputed co-prosecutor Justin O’Connell’s assertion that the government would be seeking a prison term of between 30 and 37 months for the crime that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
Contrary to O’Connell’s words Kelly insisted that the prosecution had indicated they wouldn’t be asking for incarceration beyond 21months.
Stephen Semprevivo, an executive at privately held provider of outsourced sales teams facing charges in a nationwide college admissions cheating scheme, leaves the federal courthouse in Boston Friday
Robert Zangrillo, the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Dragon Global, made his first court appearance Friday
The afternoon began with a short hearing for three parents. McGlashan’s attorney made a vigorous argument to have the travel restrictions imposed as part of his client’s release waived to allow him to go on a family vacation to Mexico planned, he said, ‘months and months and months’ before any of this happened.
Attorney Jack Pirozzolo, said that his client was not a flight risk and that to prevent him from traveling would be entirely punitive for the family as a whole.
But prosecutor Eric Rosen argued that the case against McGlashan - much of it dependent on wiretapped conversations with Singer - was ‘frankly overwhelming.’ He went onto point out that with a $12million home in Montana, a residence in California and other homes at his disposal he was hardly without options.
In the end the government won the day. Judge Kelly denied the request and saying ‘I do think there is some risk of flight so I don’t think the risk is zero in this case.
I think in the grand scheme of things for the defendants here to not take international vacations is a fair rule for everyone.’
Travel business was one thing, she said, anything else she said was a ‘slippery slope.’
She ruled, ‘I’m sorry to disappoint the family but I’m not going to allow a vacation.’
After a brief recess the four remaining parents made their appearances. Unlike the Abbotts who sat on different benches with different representations, Todd and Diane Blake sat side by side, blinking furiously as the conditions of their release and bond were rehearsed by the judge.
Before his conditions of release were read out, Zangrillo’s attorney noted that his client intends to, ‘vigorously contest the case’ and revealed a previously unknown link between his client and co-defendant Flaxman. The men have done business together in the past but will have no contact as per the conditions of their release.
Rudy Meredith, 51, the former director of women's soccer at Yale University, was the first of three key players to flip after he was caught soliciting a bribe of $450,000 from a parent in return for guaranteeing his daughter's admission to Yale on the strength of a bogus athletic profile.
Unfortunately for Meredith, that parent was being investigated by the FBI for securities fraud and willingly gave up the disgraced coach in the hope of securing leniency in his own case.
Rudy Meredith, 51, the former director of women's soccer at Yale University appeared at a Boston court Thursday where he pleaded guilty to just one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud
Michael Center, 54, former head coach of men's tennis at the University of Texas also made his initial appearance in court Thursday expected to plead not guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud (pictured leaving court)
The most sensational members of this ignominious club - Hollywood actresses Felicity Huffman, 56, and Lori Loughlin, 54,- are scheduled to appear in court next week.
All are parents who appear to have put more faith in the depth of their pockets than their offsprings' intellect, to see them accepted into the country's most prestigious schools.
All of them were caught by the FBI who taped them in conversation with Singer. In one such conversation, when Huneeus asked Singer, 'Is there any risk that this thing blows up in my face?'
The mastermind replied, 'Hasn't in 24 years.'
Huneeus later complained to Singer that his daughter's fraudulent SAT score of 1380 could have been 1550. Singer slapped it down saying had she scored that high, 'I would have got investigated for sure based on her grades.'
In most incidents the children allegedly did not know what their parents were doing.
Elisabeth Kimmel - accused of using the scheme for both her son and daughter - was recorded expressing anxiety that her son who had got into USC on a fake athletic profile had reacted with confusion when his student advisor commented that he was a track athlete and said that, no he was not.
She told Singer, 'So we just have to hope this advisor doesn't start poking around.'
In other conversations Singer boasted of his success with multiple families - using 'Photoshop and stuff' to fake images of kids supposedly showing their athletic prowess.
Two of the parents charged today submitted images of kids that simply looked like their children to assist the creation of a fraudulent athletic profile, another staged a picture of her son in football uniform though he did not play.
Others, on Singer's instruction, sought medical letters from doctors and psychologists to show that their child had learning disabilities and needed extra time to sit their standardized tests.
When, under FBI instruction, Singer later informed parents that his organization was being audited and that they had to make sure their 'stories aligned' regarding the substantial donations, he schooled them to say that they were motivated by a desire to help 'underprivileged kids.'
Huneeus took the lie a distasteful step further and was recorded saying, 'I'm going to say that I've been inspired how you're helping underprivileged kids get into college. Totally got it.'
Actresses Lori Loughlin (left) and Felicity Huffman (right) were among the 50 charged in the college cheating scandal that prompted the subsequent lawsuits by students and parents
Between them the parents appearing in court today are alleged to have made payments in the forms of donations to scheme mastermind Rick Singer's non-profit corporation the Key Worldwide Foundation and individual college athletic associations totaling just under $3.4million.
It is just a fraction of the $23million allegedly bilked by Singer down the years. He boasted that his scheme offered a 'side door' to Ivy League and other elite schools, by facilitating cheating on college admission exams and bribing complicit coaches to accept false athletic profiles and designate the applicant an athletic recruit.
The sprawling scheme was exposed by chance last February when the FBI executed a search warrant on the unnamed financial executive in California being investigated for securities fraud.
He quickly chose to co-operate and as part of what prosecutors describe as a 'multi-proffer' he revealed he was engaged in some sort of bribery scheme with Meredith.
The parents' arrival in court today marks the end of a week that began with the arraignment and pleas of a dozen coaches, college administrators and others allegedly involved in the vast scheme.
All offered pleas of not guilty. Michael Center, the former head of tennis at the University of Texas, Austin did likewise when he made his initial appearance yesterday.
Only Meredith offered a mea culpa pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. His sentencing was set for 20 June.
FIFTEEN PARENTS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SCHEME WHO WILL APPEAR IN COURT FRIDAY
Gregory and Marcia Abbott, New York and Aspen, Colorado
Gregory Abbott
Gregory, 68, is the founder and chairman of a food and beverage packaging company.
In April Abbott made a $50,000 donation to Rick Singer's non-profit corporation and purported charity, Key Worldwide Foundation in exchange for having his daughter's ACT answers corrected after she had completed the test. The payment was made four days before she sat her test.
Their daughter received a score of 35 out of a possible 36. Her undoctored score was 23.
In June 2018 Abbot's wife Marcia called to arrange for someone to also take SAT subject tests for her daughter. She told Singer that Duke University had informed the couple that they wouldn't accept anything below a score of 750. In taped telephone conversations Singer was recorded assuring Marcia, 'We'll get 750 and above.' To which she replied, 'That's fabulous.'
Her daughter received 800 out of 800 in math and 710 in literature.
In September the Abbott Family Foundation made a purported donation of $75,000 to the KWF charity. Abbott enquired how his daughter had done on her own and was told she scored in the mid 600s.
Gamal Abdelaziz
Gamal Abdelaziz, 62, Las Vegas
Former senior executive of a resort and casino operator in Macau, China.
In 2017 Abdelaziz conspired to have his daughter recruited to the University of South California basketball team in return for a payment of $200,000 made in monthly installments of $20,000.
In March 2018 Abdelaziz wired a purported contribution of $300,000 to KWF. His daughter matriculated at USC in the fall of 2018 but did not join the basketball team.
I-Hsin 'Joey' Chen, 64, Newport Beach, California
Operates a provider of warehousing and related services for the shipping industry
In April 2018 Chen is accused of having paid $75,000 to have Mark Riddell - who has pleaded guilty to fraudulently taking and correcting students' college entrance exams - purport to proctor his son's ACT test and correct the answers.
Chen's son scored 33 out of 36.
Robert Flaxman, 62, Laguna Beach, California
Robert Flaxman
Former CEO of a real estate development firm
Flaxman took part in both the college entrance exam scheme and the college recruitment scheme to secure his son's admission to the University of San Diego in 2016 and fraudulently enhance his daughter's ACT scores.
Between May and June 2016 Flaxman paid $250,000 to facilitate his son's admission to USD as an athlete.
In April and September 2016 Flaxman's daughter took her ACT twice receiving scores of 20 and 24 respectively out of a possible 36.
The day before she took the test a third time Flaxman wired a payment of $75,000 to KWF. On her third attempt his daughter scored 28.
Agustin Huneeus Jr, 53, San Francisco, California
Agustin Huneeus Jr
Owner of vineyards in Napa and elsewhere.
Huneeus allegedly took part in both the exam cheating and the college recruitment scheme paying a total of $250,000 to have his daughter's entrance to USC secured. He made a 'donation' of $50,000 to KWF in exchange for his daughter being assisted during her SATs and having mistakes corrected.
She scored 1380 out of 1600, which is in the 96th percentile nationally. When Huneeus complained about the score saying it could have been 1550. Singer was recorded telling him that had she scored so highly, 'I would have got investigated for sure based on her grades.'
Huneeus paid a further $200,000 to have her designated a water polo recruit to USC. Her admission letter noted, 'our records indicate that you have the potential to make a significant contribution to the intercollegiate athletic program.'
Elisabeth Kimmel
Elisabeth Kimmel, 54, Las Vegas
Owner and President of a media company
She took part in the scheme to facilitate her daughter's entrance to Georgetown as a tennis recruit and her son's admission to USC as a purported track recruit.
Kimmel allegedly paid a total of $275,000, over three separate donations, for her daughter who was admitted as a tennis recruit but never took part in the tennis program. She went onto put down $250,000 to have her son designated a pole-vaulter to guarantee admission to the college of his choice. An FBI wiretap recorded a conversation in which Kimmel anxiously informed Singer that, when her son's student advisor noted that he was a track athlete, he said that no he was not, as he had no knowledge of the scheme. Unaware of the sting already in play she commented, 'So we have to hope this advisor doesn't start poking around.'
Michelle Janavs, 48, Newport California
Michelle Janavs
Former executive of a large food manufacturer
Janavs allegedly participated in both the college entrance exam cheating and false athletic recruitment to gain fraudulently high ACT scores for her two daughters and admission to USC for her eldest who was accepted as a purported beach volleyball recruit.
Across two checks in October and November 2017 she purportedly donated $100,000 to KWF in return for falsified ACT results for her eldest daughter who received 32 out of 36 and paid a further $50,000 to secure her athletic designation. In January and February 2019 she deposited two checks of $25,000 with KWF in return for a guaranteed score of between 33 and 35 on her younger daughter's ACT results. In engaging Singer she expressed concerns that her daughter might question why she had to take the test at a certain center and why she needed a proctor at all. Unlike her older sister who thought the tests 'bull***' she said, '[my younger daughter] is like actually studying to try to get a 34.'
Stephen Semprevivo
Stephen Semprevivo, 53, Menlo Park, California
Packaged food entrepreneur
His involvement in the scheme allegedly dates back to 2015 with the admission of his son to Georgetown as a designated tennis player despite the fact that he did not play competitive tennis. The Semprevivo family trust made a purported donation of $400,000 to KWF six days after the boy was formally accepted to Georgetown in April 2016. He matriculated in the Fall of 2016 and has not joined the tennis team.
Todd and Diane Blake, San Francisco
Blake, 53, is an entrepreneur and investor and wife Diane, 55, is an executive at a retail-merchandising firm in San Francisco.
The couple contacted Singer in January 2017 after their daughter expressed interest in USC - a school they deemed within the 'reach stretch category.' On Singer's guidance they put down $250,000 in two checks - a $50,000 donation to USC Women's Athletics and a $200,000 donation to KWF - to have her designated a recruit to women's volleyball. The girl was admitted to USC in March 2018. She is not currently enrolled is not on the roster for the women's volleyball team.
Before the scam was exposed the couple had spoken to Singer about wanting to engage him to assist their son in his college admissions bid.
Marjorie Klapper, of Menlo Park, California
Co-owner of a jewelry business
In November 2017 Klapper allegedly paid $15,000 to KWF for cheating on her son's ACT exam. On Singer's instruction she sought medical letters to allow her son 50% more time to take the test to allow for the fraud to be perpetrated. She had tried for double. Her son scored 30 out of 36. Contacted by Singer, by then co-operating with the FBI and had been instructed to tell clients that the charity was being audited and that he wanted to make sure their 'stories aligned' regarding the payment she commented, 'It's so fun.' And confirmed, 'I'm gonna say, 'I wrote it to support the foundation, which serves underprivileged kids.'
William McGlashan Jr, 55, of Mill Valley, California
William 'Bill' McGlashan
Senior executive at a global equity firm.
In November 2017 McGlashan allegedly agreed to donate $50,000 to KWF on the understanding that Singer would arrange for his son to sit his ACT exam at a test center he 'controlled' so he could have Riddell correct the answers.
Cell phone records obtained by the FBI place McGlashan's son in Marin County on the day in December 2017 he was supposedly taking the exam in Los Angeles. He received 34 out of 36.
McGlashan was also taped discussing his desire to repeat the process with his younger son and daughter both of whom he was seeking to have classified with learning difficulties to grant them more time to sit the tests.
Singer quoted a price of $250,000 to have his son accepted into the Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy
Marci Palatella, 63, Healdsburg, California
Marci Palatella
CEO of a liquor distribution company.
Palatella allegedly took part in both the college entrance exam cheating and athletic recruitment scheme to secure her son's admission to USC. She allegedly obtained medical documentation to apply for more time for him to sit both his ACT and SAT. In March 2017 she wired $75,000 to KWF. Her son scored 1410 out of 1600 on the SAT. Having secured a false profile as a football player he received a conditional acceptance in November 2017.
The next day Palatella mailed a $100,000 check payable to the USC Women's Athletic Board. Six days after her son's full acceptance in March 2018 she wired $400,000 to KWF.
Robert Zangrillo, 52, Miami, Florida
Robert Zangrillo
Founder and CEO of private investment firm.
Zangrillo donated a total of $250,000 to KWF after his daughter's initial application to USC in 2017 was rejected. Second time round she was falsely designated an athlete with the university's rowing crew. Her academic performance was also faked with a proxy retaking classes she was failing. According to the complaint Zangrillo's daughter was aware of the scam. In recorded conversations with Singer, when asked if the plans made sense, both Zangrillo and his daughter replied, 'Yes.'
She was admitted in June 2019.
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News Photo Fifteen of the parents charged in college admissions scheme to plead NOT GUILTY
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