Thread by @aaron_leib

BREAKING: The US Attorney in Boston has unsealed indictments against at least 47 people in a nationwide college admissions cheating and recruitment scheme, including current and former D-1 coaches at Yale, Georgetown, USC, Wake Forest and Texas.

Now counting 49 people across 7 indictments. Stanford, UCLA, San Diego also involved. The scheme, according to one indictment, involved parents paying William Singer, founder of a college prep business, $15,000 to $75,000 to have someone take the SAT or ACT for their children.

Among coaches indicted (some current, some former): Stanford sailing coach John Vandemoer, Yale women's soccer coach Rudy Meredith, Georgetown tennis coach Gordon Ernst, several USC coaches, UCLA men's soccer coach Jorge Salcedo, Texas men's tennis coach Michael Center.

Full list of those indicted: justice.gov/usao-ma/invest…

Actresses Felicity Huffman & Lori Loughlin among those charged. Huffman allegedly paid $15K to have fake proctor correct daughter's SAT answers. Loughlin and her husband allegedly paid $500K to have their two daughters designated as USC crew recruits, even though they didn't row.

US Attorney Lelling is holding a press conference to announce the indictments at 11:30. Buckle up.

Here’s a visual representation of the scheme from the US Attorney’s Office.

The man at the center, William "Rick" Singer, will plead guilty in Boston this afternoon. Those charged include 3 people who organized the scheme, 2 SAT/ACT admins, 1 proctor, 1 college admin, 9 coaches, 33 parents. Prosecutors called it "Operation Varsity Blues."

Singer is in court and just pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud the U.S., and obstruction of justice. "Yes, ma'am," he says repeatedly as the judge makes sure he understands his decision.

He faces a maximum 65-year prison sentence.

Judge Zobel says the sentencing guidelines, including a reduction for acceptance of responsibility, point to a range of 188-235 months -- about 15-20 years.

Coaches, Actors, BigLaw Atty Nabbed In College Bribe Scam law360.com/articles/11379… @Law360

Prosecutor says that in addition to creating fake athletic profiles for students, Singer helped students lie about their ethnicity on college applications to take advantage of affirmative action.

Unconventional guilty plea hearing in that Singer described the scheme in detail: Bribing a fake proctor and site coordinator to cheat on SAT/ACT in LA & Houston. Photoshopping students' faces to make them look like athletes. Using his foundation to funnel parents' $$ to coaches.

Singer admitted to paying a $400,000 bribe to the Yale women's soccer coach, claiming a student was nationally ranked in China. She had never played competitively. She registered with NCAA then faked an injury.

He also admitted to paying $2.7 million in bribes to the head tennis coach at Georgetown. Coach used the money to buy a house on Cape Cod, according to prosecutors. In exchange, he recruited multiple students for the team, almost all of whom didn't play competitively.

Indictment says USC senior associate athletic director Donna Heinel took bribes to facilitate the admission of more than two dozen students as recruited athletes.

The Stanford sailing coach, John Vandemoer, just pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy. He admits to taking bribes for the sailing program, unlike other coaches who took for personal gain. Prosecutors recommending 18 months.

This exchange between Singer and Bill McGlashan, head of socially responsible investing at TPG, is remarkable.

“Pretty funny. The way the world works these days is unbelievable,” McGlashan says when Singer reveals plan to Photoshop his son’s face onto a football kicker.

Know more about this case and/or the fallout? My DMs are open.