He was the go-to place for the wealthy who wanted their children to attend elite universities. He created the “side doors”, as he himself once put it, when the front door just wasn’t enough. In return, he took $25 million from his clients.
William “Rick” Singer, 62, masterminded the largest college admissions scam in the United States known as “Operation Varsity Blues.” He shed light on the licensing system, which had long been seen as manipulated in favor of the wealthy.
Singer was one of the last people in the case on Wednesday to be sentenced to 3.5 years in prison and a $10 million fine in Boston, The Guardian and CNN reported. His prison sentence is the longest served in this scandal.
He bribed entrance exams and college coaches
Singer was the owner of the college consulting firm called The Key. To get the kids into the elite colleges, he could either pay examiners for standardized admissions tests to boost the students’ test scores. Or he bribed school coaches to call the kids recruits to improve their chances at school. Even if the children don’t even practice this sport.
The bribes usually went to Singer’s bogus charity called the Key Worldwide Foundation so the parents could disguise the payments as charitable donations and, more conveniently, tax-deductible.
However, only part of the $25 million raised was used for the bribe. Prosecutors say the amount is $7 million. Singer used more than $15 million of his clients’ money for his own benefit.
Singer collaborated with researchers
Singer’s case came to light after an associate told authorities about a corrupt Yale football coach. The trail of the carriage led to Singer.
However, in 2018, he began secretly collaborating with the investigators. He voluntarily recorded hundreds of phone calls and carried a microphone when meeting with clients or partners. In this way, the entire system could be exposed. But his cooperation was not perfect, according to prosecutors, because he warned several of his clients.
Parents and coaches also disapproved
When the case broke out in 2019, Singer pleaded guilty. “Frankly, I’m ashamed,” he said. He also apologized to his family, students and schools.
In addition to Singer, ‘Full House’ actress Lori Loughlin (58), her husband and fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli (59) and ‘Desperate Housewives’ star Felicity Huffman (60) were also sentenced to a maximum of 25 months in prison in 2019. Former Georgetown tennis coach Gordon Ernst was also sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for taking more than $3 million in bribes. (Hey)