Two wealthy parents found guilty in first ‘Varsity Blues’ US college admissions scandal trial
- They are among dozens, including Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman, accused of bribery to try to get their children into elite American universities
- Thirty-three of the parents have pleaded guilty, with prison sentences ranging from two weeks to nine months
Two parents accused of cheating to get their children into elite US universities were found guilty of all charges, in the first trial stemming from a national college admissions scandal that ensnared dozens of families.
Former Wynn Resorts executive Gamal Abdelaziz, 64, was convicted on Friday of two counts of conspiracy by a Boston jury after prosecutors alleged he paid US$300,000 in bribes to get his daughter into the University of Southern California as a purported basketball player.
Private equity investor John B. Wilson, 62, was convicted of conspiracy, bribery, fraud and filing a false tax return after prosecutors alleged he paid more than US$1.2 million in bribes to get his son into the University of Southern California and his twin daughters into Stanford and Harvard as star athletes.
After a three-week trial, the jury deliberated for about 11 hours before rendering the verdict. Abdelaziz and Wilson will be sentenced in mid-February. For both men, the most serious charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
The verdict is a victory for prosecutors who charged 57 parents, coaches and others for taking part in the alleged scheme, which involved doctoring entrance exam scores, faking athletic prowess and bribery to gain seats at universities.
