College Admissions Scandal Update: Recorded Phone Call Reveals New Details About Scam
New details continue to emerge regarding William "Rick" Singer and the steps that he allegedly took behind the scenes to orchestrate the college admissions scam.
According to the Los Angeles Times, a 2018 phone conversation between Singer and John B. Wilson, a Massachusetts financier, recently emerged that sheds some new light on what went on. At the time, Wilson was inquiring about how he could get his twin daughters into a university. To this, Singer responded that it would take no less than $45 million in donations to obtain admission to either Harvard or Stanford.
However, he revealed there was an alternative, which he called the "side door." For $1.2 million, he could make the arrangements. Following the steep price, Wilson asked what $300,000 could get. "That's, uh, Georgetown, Boston College, Georgia Tech, USC, UCLA, Berkeley," Singer replied.
The release of the transcript, prosecutors allege, helps their case as it shows Singer conspiring with wealthy parents.
Earlier this year, former "Desperate Housewives" actress Felicity Huffman and "Fuller House" star Lori Loughlin also faced charges pertaining to their involvement in the admissions scam. Huffman admitted her guilt and subsequently was sentenced to 14 days in prison. After receiving an early release, she started fulfilling the other components of her punishment.
At this time, she has not yet spoken out about her time behind bars, but networks are allegedly scrambling to get her first interview. It has also been reported that her youngest daughter will be headed off to school in the near future.
As for Loughlin, both her and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, have been accused of paying Singer $500,000 so that their daughters Olivia Jade and Isabella Rose could attend the University of Southern California (USC). They each face charges of mail and wire fraud, honest services mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery. At this time, they each have pleaded not guilty, even though prosecutors say they are in possession of an email where Giannulli allegedly admitted his guilt.
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