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The mastermind behind the widespread college admissions bribery scandal, William “Rick” Singer, was sentenced Wednesday to 3 1/2 years in federal prison — ending a saga that landed dozens of wealthy parents and celebrities behind bars and exposed a rigged higher education system.
Singer, 62, was also handed down three years of supervised release and a forfeiture of over $10 million, by Boston, Massachusetts federal judge Judge Rya Zobel.
Singer — the last person to be sentenced in the bombshell 2019 case — apologized in court for his flimsy morals.
“I lost my ethical values and have so much regret,” he told the judge.”To be frank, I am ashamed of myself.”
During the investigation, Singer secretly cooperated with the feds to snitch on affluent parents and celebrities whose kids he helped get into some of the nation’s top schools with made-up test scores and phony athletic positions.
He worked with police and the FBI to record hundreds of phone calls and meetings, sparking the arrest of more than 50 parents, coaches and administrators in March 2019.
Among those arrested were “Full House” actress Lori Loughlin, her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli along with “Desperate Housewives” star Felicity Huffman.
At the time of the busts, Singer pleaded guilty to charges including racketeering conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.
Prosecutors had previously asked the court to sentence him to six years while his lawyer requested three years probation or six months behind bars.
When news of the arrests broke, it sparked widespread outrage over what critics saw as proof that, in the US, the rich play by their own rules — and money often trumps merit.
Of those charged, 12 pleaded not guilty in a Boston court on March 25, 2019. Loughlin initially declined to enter a plea in April of that year but was convicted and sentenced to two months in October 2020. Hoffman was sentenced to two weeks behind bars in September 2019.
Other well-heeled parents sent to jail include Los Angeles wastewater systems honcho Devin Sloane, Connecticut lawyer Gordon Caplan, and Napa Valley winemaker Agustin Huneeus Jr. along with many others.
In total, prosecutors claim Singer’s multimillion-dollar scheme earned him over $25 million from his clients and paid bribes totaling more than $7 million. He also allegedly spent over $15 million of his clients’ money for his own benefit.
For about a decade, the crooked admissions coach paid off college entrance exam administrators and proctors to boost students’ test scores.
He also bribed coaches to give the undeserving applicants spots on athletic teams, often for sports they didn’t even play, in the hopes it would boost their chances of receiving an acceptance letter to the school.
“He was the architect and mastermind of a criminal enterprise that massively corrupted the integrity of the college admissions process — which already favors those with wealth and privilege — to a degree never before seen in this country,” prosecutors wrote in court documents.
Singer pleaded guilty to charges including racketeering conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy in connection to the scheme in March 2019 — on the same day the scandal made headlines and shocked the nation.
Ahead of his sentencing, Singer expressed regret and blamed his actions on his need to win “at all costs.” His lawyer has requested three years of probation or six months behind bars.
While Singer has remained out of jail, and never once been called as a witness in the cases that have gone to trial, he will get the chance to address the court before the judge hands down his sentence in Boston federal court.
If the judge agrees with prosecutors and sentences Singer to six years, it would be by far the longest sentence handed down in the case.
In addition to six years behind bars, prosecutors request the court order Singer serve an additional 36 months of supervised release and that he pay the IRS more than $10.6 million in restitution and forfeit assets valued at $5.3 million and $3.4 million in cash.
Singer has already paid $1,213,000 toward the $3.4 million money forfeiture, according to court documents. He is due to report to prison on February 27.
With Post wires
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