BOSTON — John Wilson, the Lynnfield father facing a long prison sentence for allegedly bribing a coach to get his son into the University of Southern California (USC), says he’s innocent.
“The Wilsons deny the charges brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Michael Kendall, the couple’s attorney and managing partner of White & Case LLP’s Boston office in a statement. “We look forward to vigorously defending them and clearing their name.”
In a brief telephone interview, Kendall said he will not answer inquiries from reporters or comment on the case.
“The Wilsons will fight the charges,” he told The Item.
When asked if his client will plead not guilty, Kendall said “That is my expectation.”
Wilson’s decision to go to trial is in contrast to 13 parents and one university athletic coach who pleaded guilty Monday to charges of mail and honest services fraud.
Among them was “Desperate Housewives” star Felicity Huffman. The 56-year-old Emmy Award winner, who is married to actor William H. Macy, was accused of paying $15,000 disguised as a charitable donation to cheat on her daughter’s college entrance exam. Huffman has taken responsibility for the crime and apologized in a statement.
“I accept full responsibility for my actions and will accept the consequences that stem from those actions,” she wrote. “I am ashamed of the pain I have caused my daughter, my family, my friends, my colleagues and the educational community. I want to apologize to them and, especially, I want to apologize to the students who work hard every day to get into college, and to their parents who make tremendous sacrifices to support their children and do so honestly.”
On Tuesday, federal prosecutors added money laundering to the list of accusations against Wilson, actress Lori Loughlin who starred in the sitcom “Full House,” and 13 other wealthy parents, increasing pressure on them to plead guilty.
A total of 33 parents were accused of participating in a scheme that involved rigging college entrance exams and bribing coaches at top universities.
The parents were arrested last month on a single charge of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. They face up to 20 years in prison, a fine, and probation.
Wilson, who has lived in Lynnfield for 16 months after buying a Colonial on Ashley Court for $2.4 million with his wife, Leslie, told The Item he will not comment.
It’s unclear what kind of defense Wilson will offer.
A series of emails contained in court documents provide details of how and when Wilson allegedly paid the bribe.
A cooperating prosecution witness told law enforcement agents he began working with Wilson in 2012, who prosecutors say paid $1.2 million to USC water polo coach Jovan Vavic, and two organizations created to conceal the source of the bribes, to get his three children into colleges under the guise of being recruited as athletes.
In 2013, Wilson e-mailed the witness to “confirm for which schools is side door option really viable,” according to the complaint, referring to the fraudulent way to get accepted at the school.
The witness explained “Jovan Vavic is giving me one boys slot and as of yet no one has stepped up to commit…”
Also that year, Wilson e-mailed the witness and asked, “Would the other kids know my son was a bench warmer, side door person… Obviously his skill level may be below the other freshmen. In your view will he be so weak as to be a clear misfit at practice etc?”
The dad was told his son would not be expected to play water polo for USC beyond the first semester, the transcript said.
Also in 2013, Wilson inquired about the timing of his payments to Vavic to secure his son’s admission.
Wilson wrote: “What does Jovan need… do I make the first payment to u then…also let me know when and where to wire money.”
Wilson’s son was admitted to USC as water polo recruit in 2014. One day after admission, under the subject line “USC fees,” Wilson wrote: “Thanks again for making this happen! Pls give me the invoice. What are the options for the payment? Can we make it for consulting or whatever… so I can pay it from the corporate account ?”
The witness responded that he could make the invoice for business consulting fees, so Wilson could “write off as an expense.” Wilson replied, “Awesome!”
USC has said they are investigating the circumstances of Johnny Wilson’s entrance into the school where he is a senior.
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.
He operated the Edge College & Career Network LLC, a for-profit college counseling and preparation business. He also served as the CEO of the Key Worldwide Foundation, a nonprofit he established as a faux charity. Prosecutors allege the corporations were used to hide the sources of the cash.
