A judge sentenced former college admissions consultant William “Rick” Singer to 42 months in federal prison for his leading role in a nationwide college admissions bribery scandal.
“Rick Singer was the architect of a sprawling criminal enterprise that corrupted the admissions process at several of the nation’s most elite universities,” stated federal prosecutors, per a Justice Department press release.
Singer pleaded guilty in March 2019 to several federal charges, including racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and obstruction of justice. He was investigated by the FBI, which suspected him of bribing university officials all over the country.
“His decade-long scheme resembled something out of a Hollywood movie. He courted the entitled, rich, and famous, who were so desperate for their children to secure college admission that they lied, cheated, and bribed to get them in,” the release continued.
Following his indictment, Singer cooperated with law enforcement and collected evidence against his coconspirators and “clients.” The Justice Department ended up charging 55 individuals for their involvement.
Notable celebrities, like actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, were implicated in Singer’s scheme, having knowingly paid him hundreds of thousands of dollars to get their children admitted to universities of their choosing by virtue of bribery.
Criminal incidents like bribery, designated as crimes “against society,” are also prevalent in Dallas, where soft-on-crime City leaders allowed nearly 13,000 incidents to be committed in 2022 alone, including offenses like drug possession, prostitution, and gambling.
“Access to a quality education is a key pillar of our society, and the American institutions that are educating our future leaders are second to none. But maintaining fairness in the access to these great institutions is also a vital part of this system,” stated Joleen Simpson, an IRS investigator involved in Singer’s case. “Today’s sentence should send a clear message and serve as a deterrent to those who might contemplate similar fraudulent schemes.”
Sad how serious the charges were yet bc he and other rich involved basically get a free pass. This counties judicial system is a total joke