BOSTON — The nationwide college admissions “Varsity Blues” scandal took another twist this month and now has reached deep into the college classroom.
In early December, Karen Littlefair of Newport Beach, Calif., became the 53rd person to be charged in the scheme that prosecutors allege netted more than $25 million from 2011-2018.
But her situation, unlike the other parents facing charges for paying bribes to scandal mastermind, Rick Singer, to get their children admitted to some of the nation’s top colleges and universities, Littlefair did not act illegally to obtain admission for a child; he was already enrolled at Georgetown University.
Prosecutors allege that Littlefair paid $9,000 to have someone else complete online courses for her son so he would graduate.
Like many other defendants facing federal charges, Littlefair made a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Prosecutors have recommended a sentence of four months in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $9,500.
More than half of those charged in the case have now entered guilty pleas.
Lynnfield resident John Wilson, however, is not one of them. He is sticking by his not guilty plea on all counts.
The owner of a $2.4 million residence on Ashley Court, Wilson is alleged to have paid a $220,000 bribe to Singer’s phony charity, Key Worldwide Foundation, some of which was later paid to the men’s water polo coach at USC to ensure admission for Wilson’s son as a walk-on recruit.
Wilson is also alleged to have paid $1 million to the same foundation to gain “side-door” entrance for his twin daughters at Harvard University and Stanford University as recruited athletes.
Wilson is facing a litany of charges including, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and honest services mail and wire fraud; conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery; conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud and honest services wire fraud — aiding and abetting; and federal programs bribery — aiding and abetting.
If found guilty, Wilson faces up to a $500,000 fine along with up to 40 years of prison time.
Wilson’s next appearance in Boston federal district court is a status hearing on Jan. 17 at 11 a.m. Wilson is not required to attend the hearing.
Among the defendants are “Desperate Housewives” star Felicity Huffman and “Full House” star, Lori Loughlin.
Like Wilson, Loughlin, along with her husband Mossimo Giannulli, have elected to fight multiple charges leveled against them. Both are also due in court for status hearings Jan. 17 at 11 a.m.
Huffman pleaded guilty on May 13. Prosecutors recommended a sentence of one month in prison, a $20,000 fine and one year of supervised release. Judge Indira Talwani sentenced Huffman 14 days in prison, a fine of $30,000, one year of supervised release and 250 hours of community service.
She served her sentence at a federal prison in Dublin, Calif., but served only 11 days due to a Bureau of Prisons policy that allows early release if the scheduled release date falls on a weekend. Huffman’s scheduled release date was on a Sunday.
