Felicity Huffman, Lori Loughlin among actresses, CEOs charged in alleged college admissions scam

[demmiblue]

BOSTON -- Actresses and chief executives are among 50 people arrested in a nationwide college admissions cheating scam, authorities announced Tuesday.

According to charging documents, actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin are among those involved facing charges.

The suspects allegedly paid bribes of up to $6 million to get their kids into elite colleges, including Yale, Stanford, Georgetown and USC.

In most cases, the students did not know their admission was contingent on a bribe.

University athletic coaches and administrators of college entrance exams were also among those arrested.

The alleged scam centered around a man in California who ran a business helping students get into the college of their choice.

Authorities say parents would pay him a predetermined amount, with full knowledge of what they were doing. He would then steer the money to one of two places: either an SAT or ACT administrator, or a college athletic coach.

https://abc7chicago.com/actresses-ceos-charged-in-alleged-college-admissions-scam/5186103/

[atreides1]

1. WTF???

Just when you think it can't get any stranger...

[TheBlackAdder]

32. Lori Laughlin's supposed to be some holy roller. Her next series, she's in "Full Inda Big House!"

.

Check out the crazy 700 Club interview, where her husband is Mossimo and has a clothing line at Target.

http://www1.cbn.com/700club/actress-lori-loughlin-balancing-family-faith-and-career

.

[Coventina]

2. This is why you should support your local community college.

We are open access!

[blogslut]

3. A new category of celebrity crime!

Today is weird and also bad.

[Leghorn21]

18. +++, a whole new level of surreal.

Apparently, it’s “an old story”, though, and people do this all the time, but I’m so awfully happy they got BUSTED

Cheaters liars thieves - for SHAME, and ADIOS

[mitch96]

24. "Cheaters liars thieves - for SHAME, and ADIOS"

Well so much for the goody goody Hallmark channel actress and the other one is REALLY a desperate housewife now!!
m

[Caliman73]

48. Not New

George W Bush could not get into the University of Texas, but he got into Yale. Jared Kutschner got into an elite university right after his parents made a 2.5 million dollar donation. Bush got into University of Pennsylvania despite his being a complete idiot.

[EleanorR]

4. Parents in my area pay consultant starting when their child is a freshman or sophomore in HS

Typically they pay $5,000-$10,000 and up for someone to coach their child in things like class choices, extracurriculars, and essay writing and to help with college choices and applications. Test help is extra.

[Bettie]

6. Really?

Wow. Nothing like that around here, but we're in a not-affluent small town where making 50k a year is upper income.

[EleanorR]

8. There are articles about it around here every year when college admission time rolls around

Certainly seems like a thing.

[Bettie]

9. Wow...it would be nice to have enough resources to

do that!

But, I trust my kids to figure it out.

[underpants]

31. I had no idea about this.

Amazing

[Duppers]

55. My feelings too: gross.

My kid got into very good universities with hard work. Hubs and I put a high priority on his studying and grades and were lucky in that he had a free STEM school within busing distance his 11th & 12th grades. He took college level classes there. Our county's school district was rated in the top 100 schools systems in the country and we were happy to pay our higher taxes.

Paying for privileges? Won't the kids' lack of knowledge show up later in the world? A workd which usually judges you by your knowledge, brain power, and skills.
But then again, look where it's gotten tRump.

How the F did colleges/universities get this corrupted??!!
Underfunding?

[BBG]

58. My neighbor's gig

It’s like a marketing gig but for an individual as a product. For the individual to be best prepared and best marketed to colleges at application time.

[EleanorR]

59. I believe high school guidance counselors used to do something similar

I think they used to help prepare kids, payed attention to their coursework, helped with applications, but I think with cuts to education funding guidance counselors have been cut. And of course getting into college became more and more competitive and many schools have had more applicants because of the ease of using the Common App.

[BBG]

60. That's right

All about privatization. Take what’s a legitimate function in the public space and do away with it. Opens up the function to private enterprise and eventual exploitation like we see in this article.

[underpants]

65. I know someone who does something like that except the reverse

Schools market the hell out of themselves these days. They often come after the student not like it was when we got that sad thin envelope from schools we'd applied to. Of course these are the upper echelon type schools but not the debt machine bottom feeders either.

She also knows what schools are looking for so she's helped out people in tailoring how the kid looks. This isn't done through years of planning as EleanorR posted about though.

[Tipperary]

5. Ugh.

This is America.

[nycbos]

7. I am shocked SHOCKED to find gambling on here.

[aikoaiko]

10. Whatever happened to the legal bribes of 5 years of endowment gifts?

Or one really big endowment gift?

Presidents at most universities, even public ones, can make exceptions to admissions decisions.

[demmiblue]

12. ...

Link to tweet

[aikoaiko]

14. That's what I'm talking about, but way beyond Jared.

[deurbano]

47. Meg Whitman donated 30 million to Princeton (and coincidentally, her low life son was admitted),

Last edited Tue Mar 12, 2019, 02:47 PM - Edit history (1)

so, I guess Jared's dad got off cheap! Of course he also had to donate megabucks to NYU so Jared could get into law school to become familiar with all the laws he planned to violate!

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/politics/Meet-Meg-Whitmans-Big-Men-on-Campus-jw-79686842.html

[dixiegrrrrl]

16. Like Trump's father did, to get him into Wharton.

Tis known.

[underpants]

33. And Jared's dad to get him in to Harvard

Jared’s own private high school was surprised he got in.

[dixiegrrrrl]

44. Did not know that bit.

Figures, tho.

[underpants]

62. $2.5 million pledged to be paid over 5 or 10 years

My book exposed a grubby secret of American higher education: that the rich buy their under-achieving children’s way into elite universities with massive, tax-deductible donations. It reported that New Jersey real estate developer Charles Kushner had pledged $2.5 million to Harvard University in 1998, not long before his son Jared was admitted to the prestigious Ivy League school. At the time, Harvard accepted about one of every nine applicants. (Nowadays, it only takes one out of twenty.)

I also quoted administrators at Jared’s high school, who described him as a less than stellar student and expressed dismay at Harvard’s decision.

“There was no way anybody in the administrative office of the school thought he would on the merits get into Harvard,” a former official at The Frisch School in Paramus, New Jersey, told me. “His GPA did not warrant it, his SAT scores did not warrant it. We thought for sure, there was no way this was going to happen. Then, lo and behold, Jared was accepted. It was a little bit disappointing because there were at the time other kids we thought should really get in on the merits, and they did not.”

https://www.propublica.org/article/the-story-behind-jared-kushners-curious-acceptance-into-harvard

[deurbano]

53. I have the book in which that was reported, Price of Admission, written before he became Mr. Trump.

And his father also contributed to NYU (where Jared studied law)... and I think to Cornell as a Harvard backup.

Revolting hypocrisy and projection (as usual!) when President Obama's academic record was constantly questioned by Jared's dad-in-law (and his deplorable followers), even though he graduated in the top 15 percent at Harvard Law! So, even if his undergraduate work was not of the tippy-top highest order (I think he has said he had a 3.5 average overall, but maybe 3.7 at Columbia for the last two years?), they obviously made the right choice in admitting him.... while the same cannot be said of Yale, which admitted Cheney as an undergraduate only to have him flunk out! (But we never hear about that, do we? It was before women were admitted and before affirmative action, but being from WY probably helped; though no one seems to argue that regional representation is unfair.) Also, W got into Harvard Business School with an undergraduate C average from Yale and "experience" as a failed businessman.

https://www.eduinreview.com/blog/2008/10/college-records-of-dick-cheney-show-he-failed-out-of-yale/

[Renew Deal]

56. I was talking to someone about this today and they said this is very common

The schools will even solicit them from applicants.

[lostnfound]

11. Sad, and the kids pictures are out there now nt

[Alea]

13. Crazy

Watching now.

[lostnfound]

15. Sad for rejected worthy applicants, also diminished reputation of legitimate graduates

Holy crud. Some students did not even KNOW. Some kids took the exams and got good test scores but never knew the parents had bought them the good scores! Oh My God.

[nolabear]

17. Crap. I like Felicity Huffman. I hope Wm H Macy isn't involved.

He’s her husband and a favorite actor.

[Leghorn21]

20. Looks as if he is, bear (paragraph 153)

I’m only sorry for any kids who got forced by their parents to do this, and felt they had no choice but to cheat

Amends are due, Mom and Dad

[nolabear]

61. Dammit. Not that preferences aren't extended all the time.

But blatant bribery...

[Mendocino]

66. Darn tooting

Did he flee the interview or was he cooperating?

[monmouth4]

19. I used to see Lori Loughlin all the time when I worked in NY. Very friendly, sweet woman. Wow. n/t

[tenderfoot]

21. 40 people and 2 actresses - lets make this about the entertainment industry

eom

[Codeine]

23. It gets people to read the article

thus increasing awareness of this bullshit. Ya gotta use the tools you’re given.

[tenderfoot]

26. yep...

you should see the comments from wingnuts on twitter.

[IluvPitties]

22. Support your local public university!

Quality and affordability!

[exboyfil]

34. We are blessed with three state universities that

are relatively easy to get into most of their academic programs (I know Nursing at Iowa is challenging to get into - my daughter did not even try because a local hospital affiliated college allowed her to finish sooner).

I had my kids load up on community college classes while in high school so that they finished early in college. I never had them do the AP/Honors rat race for a possible scholarship or acceptance into an elite private. More value in living at home and finishing their first two years over the nebulous possibility of more scholarships beyond what is clearly defined (certain ACT, certain class rank).

Both kids are live in their home town and have great jobs. Both started their jobs at 20. My oldest is 23 and is coming up on five years of vestment (two summer internships).

[IluvPitties]

68. Congrats to your children!

Public education is the best tool for social mobility in existence. That's why Republicans hate it so much.

[moondust]

27. A fish rots from the head.

I expect corruption/crime--especially white collar--will become more common in the U.S., potentially overwhelming law enforcement. Kids and some parents are finding out that you can really go places not because you can do anything well but just by cheating and screwing people and buying a lot of publicity for your "brand" along the way. Maybe even become President someday.

February 13, 2019
~
Focused primarily on violent crime, opioid cases and, most notably, immigration violations, Justice Department statements and policies over the last two years have made clear that prosecuting business conduct is not a top priority. The administration’s shift in emphasis has resulted in a decline not only in the number of traditional white-collar cases brought, but also in the amounts of fines and penalties imposed on white-collar wrongdoers.
~
White-Collar Enforcement After Two Years of Trump

[exboyfil]

28. Charitable contributions

I wonder if the IRS is going to get a bite out of them as well if they claimed the deduction.

[-Steph-]

29. From what I've read, it appears Lori Loughlin's daughters were aware of the bribes, & to make it

even worse.. her daughter posted a Youtube video a while back where she said she doesn't even care about school and that she's only attending so she can have the college party experience. In the video she also said she's not even sure how often she'll attend classes.

It's horrible to think someone like that stole a spot from someone deserving that would have really wanted to be there.

Her comments on it are brief and start around the 5:30 mark.

?t=330

[obamanut2012]

39. She also has a sponcon IG

[demmiblue]

50. I just saw that.

[RockRaven]

30. The FBI/DOJ said flat out: they're being prosecuted for bribing the wrong party.

From a social standpoint this is very very sick. If the same parents had taken the same money and given it to the universities directly, and received admission for their kids in exchange, the FBI/DOJ wouldn't have lifted a finger -- because it would not have been illegal. It is only because they paid other people for the same result, which was obtained by lying to the university to trick them into admitting the students, that they've broken the law. In a sense, the FBI/DOJ is defending the rights of the universities to extort that money themselves. While condemning the privilege and entitlement of the wealthy, let's also keep an eye on the very messed up system which these prosecutions are protecting.

[underpants]

35. Yep. That's what Jared's dad did

$2.5 million over 5 or 10 years if memory serves

[Lucky Luciano]

43. Donating to the school is one thing...donating to someone's bank account is another!

I know it sucks, but a significant donation to the school does improve education at the school by creating new departments, buildings, contributes to scholarship funds, etc., so I can deal with that.

Obviously paying a specific person off us considerably worse.

[GoCubsGo]

36. What? Wealthy people are bribing elite schools to accept their unqualified kids?

I'm shocked, SHOCKED I tell you!

[MichMary]

40. From what I heard at the press conference

(and it wasn't everything, because my dogs were going ballistic) it sounds like the schools weren't involved; some coaches were. But it also involved paying for people to take or "improve" the scores.

[LonePirate]

37. So these wealthy people couldn't afford to donate an 8-9 figure $$$ building like billionaires do?

[dsc]

38. probably not

9 figures is 100 million, and while Huffman and Macy are rich, I doubt they are that rich. Neither one are Tom Cruise or Tom Hanks who are the only ones I can think of who might have made enough to have a spare 100 million lying about.

[Baitball Blogger]

41. Anyone think that any of the Trumps will get caught in this?

[GemDigger]

54. Tiffany is at Georgetown. That was my very first thought when I read about this. nt

[Gothmog]

45. A big law firm partner is involved

Wilkie Farr is a white shoe law firm and this will be big news in legal circles https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/big-time-attorney-implicated-in-alleged-college-entrance-scam-of-national-proportions/

Among the dozens of individuals accused of taking part in the scam is Gordon Caplan, currently the co-chairman of major global law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. According to court documents, Caplan paid $75,000 to William Rick Singer‘s Key Worldwide Foundation, a charity organization that was allegedly used to orchestrate the scam. He’s been charged with with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.

The Justice Department, including a transcript of a conversation allegedly between Caplan and an unidentified party, claims that Caplan paid the money as part of an agreement that would have his daughter declared as having a learning “discrepancy” in order for her to get extended time to take the exam, which she would also be permitted to take at this unnamed person’s school, with a proctor ensuring that she got the desired score.

According to court documents, Caplan paid $25,000 before his daughter took the test, and $50,000 afterwards.

According to Caplan’s bio on the Willkie Farr website, he is not only the co-chairman of the firm, but a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and a partner practicing in their Private Equity Practice Group and Corporate & Financial Services Department. He earned his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, and a B.A. from Cornell.

[dlk]

46. This Type is Cheating Has Been Occurring for Many Years

It’s not just wealthy, connected women. Men have been doing this for a very long time, too. Interestingly, it’s the women’s names in the headlines

[BamaRefugee]

49. Not really. It was the athletic coaches in the headlines on several of my news feeds.

[3catwoman3]

52. Cheating/bribing/corruption in college sports...

...may not be new, but I admit to being shocked that coaches would accept a "player" who doesn't even play the sport.

[workinclasszero]

51. So you are telling me that the deck is stacked for the rich with no morals in America?

I'm shocked, shocked I say!

Looks like good ole pure unrestrained capitalism is working it's magic again!

[catbyte]

57. Why not just do it the old fashioned way? Donate a shitload of money directly to the university.

[SoCalDem]

63. Just because you are talented & have a pretty/handsome face,

does not mean you are an honorable/decent/law-abiding citizen
Shofty people are also good actors.

[edhopper]

64. Which CEOs

we known the photogenic actresses, but no one is showing the CEOs.

[crazycatlady]

67. here's an essay from someone who worked in admissions

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/anonymousadmissions/college-admissions-scam-felicity-huffman-lori-loughlin-ivy