fraud

Since we last checked in on the college admissions scandal back on 11/5/20, three more parents have been sentenced.  In addition, Lori Loughlin and husband Mossimo Giannulli have served their sentences.

Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli

12/28/20 – Associated Press – Lori Loughlin released after prison term in college scam – Ms. Loughlin was released from the federal prison in Dublin, California on Monday 12/28/20 according to the article. This is consistent with information listed at the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator page.

Having been incarcerated on 10/30/20, her expected release date would be 12/30/20, or 61 days later.

By my calculation that means she served 59 days of her two month sentence. That is two days short of the expected release date.

Periodically I update the status of the parents who tried to cheat their children into colleges. Here is a recap of the players, their sentences, and current status.

Detention status is from the Bureau of Prison’s inmate locator database.

Why am I spending the time to track all this information? Several reasons.

• First, it is interesting.
• Second, this provides a superb object lesson in the consequences of cheating, especially when such ethical/moral failures move into the criminal realm.
• Third, it provides you and me background information on how the federal judicial system works.
• Fourth, this accumulates the players and status for those who want to find such information.

#29? – Mark Hauser – guilty plea entered; plea deal recommends six months prison time, one year supervised release, and $40K fine.  Sentencing expected in January 2021. (9/25/20)

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While describing the status of Lori Loughlin and her husband in previous update of the college admissions fraud, I learned there have been a number of parents who entered a guilty plea, several of whom have already been sentenced, but I had not previously mentioned their participation.

Looking at the Department of Justice’s listing of defendants, charges, status, and sentencing information at their web site, Investigations of College Admissions and Testing Bribery Scheme identified seven parents who have already pleaded guilty.

Bruce and Davina Isackson

5/1/19 – USA Today – Couple who paid $600K to get kids into UCLA, USC pleads guilty in college admissions scandal – This is an old report, all the way back in May 2019.

Bruce and Divina Isackson signed a plea deal with the feds. They admitted paying $600,000 to the mastermind of the scheme in return for getting their older daughter into UCLA and younger daughter into USC. Feds also claim they were in conversations about getting the youngest son into school.

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Since last update on the admissions cheating scandal, Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli have been sentenced to prison, the insurance executive who introduced them to the scheme has entered a guilty plea, and another parent has been charged in the scam.

Double checked my notes against the Department of Justice’s listing of defendants along with their charges, status, and sentencing information at the DOJ web site, Investigations of College Admissions and Testing Bribery Scheme. Found out I missed seven parents who have pleaded guilty, of whom several have already been sentenced.

This post will discuss the Loughlin/Giannulli case. Next post will discuss the parents I previously missed.

Following posts will summarize status of parents who voted pleaded guilty, their sentences, and current status.

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Since my last update, there have been six more parents sentenced to prison for their participation in the college admission fraud.

In my research, found out the Department of Justice has a recap of defendants, charges, status, and sentencing information at their web site, Investigations of College Admissions and Testing Bribery Scheme.

The newest felons, all of whom will get to enjoy free, short-term federal housing:

#21 & #22 – Lori Laughlin and Mossimo Giannulli – Ms. Laughlin earned 2 months in prison, $150,000 fine, 2 years supervised release, and 100 hours community service.  Mr. Giannulli earned 5 months prison time, $250,000 fine, 2 years supervised release, and 250 hours community service.  They paid the organizer of the scam $500,000 to structure a scheme to present their two daughters as experienced rowing athletes even though neither of the children had any experience in the sport. The couple had loudly declared their innocence until entering a guilty plea back in May. Both of them were ordered to report to prison in November.

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Another sentencing had been expected in the last month or so. The coronavirus pandemic has closed many courts so lots of proceedings are on hold.

There is some news – one more sentencing, another guilty plea, and judge refusing to dismiss some charges.

Sentencing so far includes 16 parents and 2 college coaches. Fourteen parents are awaiting trial.

#16 – 3/31/20 – Elizabeth Henriquez – Seven months in prison, $200,000 fine, 2 years supervised release, and 300 hours community service. She requested home confinement instead of prison in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, the judge ordered her to report on June 30 and indicated he would entertain a motion for further delay of confinement if the  pandemic is not resolved.

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Not a lot of developments on the college admissions fiasco in the last several weeks. Two more sentencing hearings are scheduled over the next two weeks.

Some updates:

3/26/20 – New York Post – Lori Loughlin, college admissions scandal parents urge judge to drop charges. (more…)

Currently, fifteen parents have been sentenced in the “Varsity Blue” college admissions scandal. I’ve noticed two coaches who have been sentenced.

Following is a list of the sentencing results for those individuals.  I’ve published this list before. Will continue to post updates as more sentences are handed down.

The status listed at the Bureau of Prison’s inmate locator database is added for all of those sentenced.

Previous sentencing

Non-parent #2- 3/2/20 – Michael Center, tennis coach at UT Austin – Six months in prison, $60,000 fine, and one year supervised release. The coach accepted bribes of $60K personally and $40K to the tennis program in return for helping a student who didn’t play tennis get admitted as a tennis athlete.  Parent paid $631,564 to the organizer of this whole scheme in return for the faked admission. Name of parent is not mentioned in this article.

3/12/20 status – Inmate 28214-480 is listed at the Bureau of Prison’s website as not in custody.

#15 – 2/26/20 – Michelle Janavs – Five months in prison, $250,000 fine, and two years supervised release. She paid $100K to fix ACT answers for two children, $50K to a USC coach, and was arrested before paying a remaining balance of $150K. Prosecutors requested 21 months.

The judge was going to sentence her to 12 months but gave her a 7 month discount because of her charitable work. She draws $100,000 a month from the family trust funded by the entrepreneurial efforts of her father (inventor of “Hot Pockets” sandwiches). Giving away some portion of her inherited wealth got her a reduced sentence.

3/11/20 status – Inmate 77816-112 is not in custody.

#14 – 2/7/20 – Douglas Hodge – Nine months in prison, $750,000 fine. 500 hours of community service. Paid $850,000 to get four of his seven children into college. Two went to Georgetown as fake tennis players, two to USC, one as pretend soccer player and another as fake football player. He was working to get a fifth child into Loyola Marymount for which the feds claim he offered to pay $200K for admission to Loyola Marymount, which claim Mr. Hodge denied. Has been buying his kids way into college since 2008.

Update:  WSJ article says judge was going to issue a 12 month sentence but reduced it to 9 months because of his previous philanthropic efforts.

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New disclosures of communication between the scandal’s ringleader and his attorney are causing commotion in the trials and sentencing.

One more parent and one athletic coach have been sentenced.

Next post will provide a recap of status for each sentenced individual. Those summaries will include current confinement status as posted at the Bureau of Prison’s website.

New disclosures

2/27/20 – Wall Street Journal – College-Admissions Trials to Begin in October Even As Battle Brews Over New Evidence.  First round of trials will be in October 2020 and the second round starting in January 2021.  Lori Laughlin and her husband will be in the first group.

A new spat between the feds and defense attorneys is focused on about 300 pages of notes made by the key player in the fiasco which were turned over to the various defense teams this week.

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Fourteenth sentence for a parent in the college admissions scandal was handed down today. Also, feds have recommendations for the next three parents already scheduled for sentencing, which will be heavier than previous cases.

The LA Times provided an update on federal recommendations on 2/4/20:  Admissions scandal:  Prosecutors seek longest prison sentences yet for four California parents.

Prosecutors assert the four worked on the scheme for 11 years, cumulatively paying $1.6M to help out nine children.

Recap of status for these four, each of whom have pleaded guilty on two felony counts:

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Two more parents have been sentenced in the college admissions scandal.  Been watching the news lately and no more sentences have been declared in the last six weeks.

According to my count of the status listed by Wikipedia, there are 6 parents who have a plea deal and are awaiting sentencing. Another 15 parents are awaiting trial.

New sentencing since my last post on 10/28/19:

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In the last week and a half, there have been two more parents sentenced with four entering plea deals.  Additional charges have been brought against parents who are still fighting the charges.

One parent released

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That makes #4 through #9 that have been sentenced.

First of the parents has reported for her free federal housing.

Other articles:

10/15/19 – NPR – Felicity Huffman Begins 14-Day Prison Term in College Admissions Scandal – She reported early for her 14 day sentence.

On 10/16/19, the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator website shows her with register 77806-112, located at Dublin FCI, with release date of 10/27/19.  That means she would have actually reported on 10/13/19, I think.  Dublin FCI is low security federal institution with an adjacent low security satellite camp. It is located in Alameda county, California.  See overhead photo above.

10/15/19 – Wall Street Journal – In College-Admissions Case, Lawyers for Coaches, Others Move to Dismiss Charges – A number of parents are filing motions that the conspiracy charges are cast too wide, including parents who weren’t participating with anyone, thus the charges are more severe than they ought to be. I don’t understand the purpose of the argument, but appears to be effort to separate some of the less-involved parents from the taint of being publicly associated with the more severe cases.

Details of sentencing

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Two more parents have been sentenced in the admissions scheming. Also, the judge handling 10 plea deals outlines the rationale for sentencing.

Los Angeles Times – 9/23/19 – Prosecutors in college admissions scandal fighting for prison time for parents. The judge scheduled to sentence 10 more parents in the “Varsity Blues” admissions fiasco decided on the basis for which she will determine sentences.  Prosecutors had sought to use the amount of money paid as guiding the sentence. Judge decided the actions of the parents will guide her sentencing.

Two new sentencings

9/27/19 – Stephen Semprevivo – Sentenced to 4 months in jail, 2 years supervised release, 500 hours community service, $100,000 fine, possible restitution to Georgetown. He allegedly paid $400,000 to the fake charity, which in turn allegedly paid the Georgetown tennis coach. Plan was to present the son as a competitive tennis player.

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