Updated less than 1 min ago1:46 p.m. ET, March 12, 2019
Georgetown, Yale and UCLA react as coaches face charges in admissions scheme
More universities have released statements about today's arrests related to a nationwide college admissions cheating scheme. All three schools said they have a coach or former coach who has been named as a defendant in the case.
Georgetown University:
Georgetown University is deeply disappointed to learn that former Tennis Coach, Gordon Ernst, is alleged to have committed criminal acts against the University that constitute an unprecedented breach of trust. Mr. Ernst has not coached our tennis team since Dec. 2017, following an internal investigation that found he had violated University rules concerning admissions. Georgetown cooperated fully with the government’s investigation. We are reviewing the details of the indictment and will take appropriate action. - Meghan Dubyak, Georgetown University spokesperson
Yale University:
As the indictment makes clear, the Department of Justice believes that Yale has been the victim of a crime perpetrated by its former women’s soccer coach. The university has cooperated fully in the investigation and will continue to cooperate as the case moves forward. - Tom Conroy, Yale University spokesperson
University of California, Los Angeles
The U.S. Department of Justice announced this morning a criminal case naming UCLA Men’s Soccer head coach Jorge Salcedo as a defendant, and notified UCLA that it is a potential victim of a fraudulent scheme. Coach Salcedo has been placed on leave and will have no involvement with the soccer team while this matter is under review. Assistant coaches Matt Taylor and Phil Marfuggi will lead the team in his absence.
The conduct alleged in the filings revealed today is deeply disturbing and in contrast with the expectations we have of our coaches to lead their teams with honesty and integrity. If the facts alleged are true, they represent a grave departure from the ethical standards we set for ourselves and the people who work here.
UCLA is not aware of any current student-athletes who are under suspicion. The University is cooperating with the Department of Justice and will conduct its own review to determine the proper steps to take to address this matter. - UCLA spokeperson Tod M. Tamberg released this joint statement from UCLA and UCLA Athletics
Celebrities criticize those who participated in college admissions scam
From CNN's Christina Zdanowicz
Celebrities are beginning to share reactions to the Justice Department's college admissions scam investigation.
Earlier today, prosecutors accused actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, as well as other parents, elite college coaches and college prep executives of carrying out a national conspiracy to get students into prestigious colleges.
Some celebrities took to Twitter to express their anger about the scheme and others talked about how they got into college the old fashioned way.
Here's what they said:
Felicity Huffman, designer Mossimo Giannulli and others will appear in court later today
From CNN's Stella Chan
Actress Felicity Huffman
Fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, actress Felicity Huffman and 11 others were arrested this morning in Los Angeles for their alleged involvement in “Operation Varsity Blues," according to FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller.
Huffman and Giannulli were arrested at their homes. The FBI served a warrant for actress Lori Loughlin — who is married to Giannulli — but she was not home at the time.
What we're watching: All 13 defendants will appear in federal court in downtown Los Angeles after 5 p.m. ET today.
NCAA: The charges "should be a concern for all of higher education"
The NCAA has issued a statement following today's charges that alleged some coaches at the universities accepted bribes in exchange for students being admitted through the athletic route.
Here's what the NCAA said:
“The charges brought forth today are troubling and should be a concern for all of higher education. We are looking into these allegations to determine the extent to which NCAA rules may have been violated.”
USC, Wake Forest, and the University of Texas react to news of explosive admissions scam
From CNN’s Madeleine Thompson and Lauren DelValle
We're starting to see some of the colleges react to the news that members of their respective communities were involved in the massive admissions scam.
University of Texas spox J.B. Bird:
Federal authorities notified us this morning that we were victims of an organized criminal effort involving admissions. We have just become aware of charges against our Men’s Tennis Coach Michael Center and he will be placed on administrative leave until further notice while we gather information. We are cooperating fully with the investigation. Integrity in admissions is vital to the academic and ethical standards of our university.
Wake Forest:
Wake Forest is aware of the allegations regarding head volleyball coach Bill Ferguson. The University has retained outside legal counsel to look into this matter. Wake Forest has placed Ferguson on administrative leave and named Randi Smart interim coach, effective immediately. We will have no further comment at this time.
University of Southern California:
We are aware of the ongoing wide-ranging criminal investigation involving universities nationwide, including USC. USC has not been accused of any wrongdoing and will continue to cooperate fully with the government’s investigation.
We understand that the government believes that illegal activity was carried out by individuals who went to great lengths to conceal their actions from the university. USC is conducting an internal investigation and will take employment actions as appropriate.
USC is in the process of identifying any funds received by the university in connection with this alleged scheme. Additionally, the university is reviewing its admissions processes broadly to ensure that such actions do not occur going forward.
How parents cheated the system to get their kids into college, according to prosecutors
From CNN's Brynn Gingras
Officials with the FBI and the Department of Justice, as well as the US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, just detailed how the massive college admissions cheating scam worked.
A man named Rick Singer is at the center of it all, prosecutors alleged: He set up a non-profit, and parents came to his organization for help getting their kids into college.
From there, there were two routes Singer and parents would take, officials said:
- Test scores: Singer would have some retake students' SAT and ACT exams, changing answers to get a higher score. In some cases, parents and Singer would arrange for students to see a therapist, who could sign off on allowing more time for the exams.
- Athletics: Singer was in contact with coaches at the universities, and he arranged for students to be admitted through the athletic route — even faking pictures of the students as athletes.
Some parents paid up to $6.5 million for "guaranteed admission," FBI says
Joseph Bonavolonta, the FBI special agent in charge, said some parents paid millions of dollars to ensure that their children gained admission to prestigious universities.
Some parents sent as much as $200,000 to $6.5 million for "guaranteed admission," he said.
Justice Department releases list of defendants and the charges they face
From CNN's Laura Jarrett
The Justice Department has released a chart of those charged in the university entrance racketeering case, along with the specific crimes.
For most, the charges range from conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.
Others, such as defendant William Singer, face racketeering conspiracy; money laundering conspiracy; conspiracy to defraud US and obstruction of justice.
This is a nationwide scam, with "several connections to the Boston area," prosecutor says
Andrew Lelling, the US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, said the college admissions scam is a nationwide scheme, but there were several connections to the Boston area.
https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/college-admissions-cheating-felicity-huffman-lori-loughlin/index.html
2019-03-12 17:58:25Z
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