93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
(AP) – Fifty people have been charged in what federal officials say is the largest college admissions scam ever prosecuted by the Justice Department.
Among those charged are nine coaches of elite schools and 33 parents who prosecutors say paid “enormous sums” to guarantee their children’s admission.
Coaches are accused of taking bribes to admit students at schools including Wake Forest University, Georgetown University and the University of Southern California.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling in Boston said Tuesday at a news conference that the colleges are not targets of the continuing investigation. He says authorities believe other parents were involved.
Court documents say an admissions consulting company in California was paid $25 million from 2011 through February 2019 to help facilitate the bribes.
Parents charged include actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman. Representatives for Loughlin had no comment.
Officials say parents spent anywhere from $200,000 to $6.5 million to guarantee their children’s admission.
