Former USC water polo coach convicted in college admissions scandal, prosecution ends

A grand jury in Boston on Friday convicted a former University of Southern California water polo coach on all counts related to his role in a major college admissions scam that ended led to a sweeping prosecution that rocked higher education.

It took less than five hours for the federal panel to convict Jovan Vavic, 60, who led His Trojan to 16 men’s and women’s national titles, fraud and bribery. Prosecutors said he received about $250,000 in bribes for appointing unqualified students as water polo recruits so they could attend USC.

After his conviction, Vavic walked past reporters without answering any questions. Vavic’s attorneys argued that he was just doing what he could to raise funds for his championship-dominating, championship-winning program as sports officials had demanded. They asserted that he never lied, never took bribes, and was a victim of USC’s attempt to cover up a “popular culture” that accepted wealthy students who could provide donations.

The university, which fired Vavic after his arrest in 2019, insisted the school’s admissions processes “don’t go to trial”.

Condemnation closed the book “Operation Varsity Blues” prosecuted 56 defendants who pleaded guilty, were convicted or adjourned, with an admission of guilt. One has received a presidential pardon.

Sentencing and appeal hearings are still scheduled, but any issues of guilt or guilt have been resolved.

U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins called these prosecutions “one of the greatest scandals in academic history.”

“In March 2019, my predecessor Andrew Lelling stood here announcing charges against 57 people across the country for cheating on college entrance exams and bribing sports coaches to secure admitted to elite colleges and universities,” Rollins told reporters after the Vavic ruling.

“I have the honor to stand here today just over three years later, to announce that justice has been served for everyone, from impersonators to contestants to coaches to parents, to Mastermind and con artist Rick Singer, has been held accountable.”

Actor Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin are the most senior defendants in the scandal that broke out three years ago.

Parents paid show host William “Rick” Singer millions of dollars to increase opportunities for their children into elite universities like Yale, Georgetown, and Stanford.

He arranged to administer or change standardized tests to the children of these good parents, and the coaches paid to designate those students as deserving high-level athletes. receive specials.

Singer, who has cooperated with the FBI and prosecutors, is expected to be sentenced on September 8.

“To say the behavior in this case was reprehensible is an understatement,” Rollins said. “The rich, the powerful, and the famous, dripping with privilege and rights, have used their money and power to steal college admissions scores from more deserving and capable students. “

Also on Friday, a key figure in the scheme, contestant Mark Riddell, was sentenced to four months in prison.

Riddell, 39 years old, of Palmetto, Florida, pleaded guilty in April 2019, a month after the college cheating case was announced.

Riddell sometimes administers exams on behalf of students, and in other cases, he poses as a proctor – the person who oversees the tests – and then corrects the answers given, prosecutors said. He also paid bribes to test administrators at one location in Houston and another in West Hollywood, California.

Prosecutors speak that over eight years Riddell cheated the grades of 24 students.

Four months in prison is the term prosecutors seek. Riddell was also sentenced to two years of supervised release and forfeited $239,449, which the government said he received as payment.

Riddell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud from honest services, as well as conspiracy to launder money.

Related press and Phil Helsel contribute.

at Blogtuan.info – Source: nbcnews.com – Read the original article here