BOSTON — An ashen-faced Lynnfield father accused of bribing a coach to secure a spot for his son at the University of Southern California (USC) faced a federal judge Wednesday.
In the hushed courtroom, John Wilson, 59, in a gray suit and powder blue tie, listened as Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Rosen recited the charge of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud that carries a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
US Magistrate Judge Page Kelley asked Wilson if he understood the charge and he answered “Yes, your honor.”
Wilson is one of three dozen parents, coaches and admission consultants who are facing charges in the nationwide admission scandal.
Following the brief appearance, Wilson exited the courtroom and registered with the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office. He was accompanied by his wife, Leslie, and two Boston defense attorneys, Michael Kendall and Yakov Malkiel of White & Case LLP.
The couple declined a request for comment.
“I have nothing to say,” John Wilson told The Item.
The nationwide scandal netted Felicity Huffman, star of “Desperate Housewives,” and Lori Loughlin of “Full House,” who were also in court.
Huffman and Loughlin walked past reporters and refused to answer questions. But Loughlin shook hands with prosecutors when she entered the packed courtroom, which brought odd glances from Rosen and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie Wright and Justin O’Connell.
Loughlin, who played Aunt Becky on “Full House” in the 1980s and ’90s, and her husband are accused of paying $500,000 to have their two daughters labeled as recruits to the USC crew team, even though neither played the sport.
Huffman, an Emmy Award winner, is accused of paying $15,000 that she disguised as a charitable donation to cheat on her daughter’s college entrance exam.
Wilson and nine other parents made their first appearance in U.S District Court but did not enter a plea. An arraignment has not been scheduled.
Prosecutors say they uncovered a conspiracy to bribe coaches and cheat on entrance exams to get their children into the nation’s most elite schools.
Wilson allegedly paid $1.5 million to USC water polo coach Jovan Vavic, and two organizations created to conceal the source of the bribes, to secure the couple’s three children admission to colleges under the guise of being recruited as athletes.
In exchange for the cash, Wilson landed admission at USC for his son as a purported recruit to the school’s water polo team, and Stanford University and Harvard University for his twin daughters, according to court documents.
Wilson, who founded a private equity and real estate company, owns a $2.4 million Colonial on Ashley Court, and a $6 million seven-bedroom vacation home in Hyannis Port, according to county records.
A cooperating prosecution witness told law enforcement agents he began working with Wilson in 2012, and Wilson agreed to pay the bribes.
Wilson’s son is still a student at USC, but the school has launched an investigation and has promised to reveal the findings when it is completed.
Prosecutors say the bribes were orchestrated by William “Rick” Singer, a 58-year-old California admissions consultant. He has pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy. Court documents reveal his company was paid $25 million from 2011 through last month to facilitate the bribes.
