College Admissions Scandal: 13 parents, 1 coach to plead guilty

ByMelanie Woodrow KGO logo
Monday, April 8, 2019
College Admissions Scandal: 13 parents, 1 coach to plead guilty
Thirteen parents and one university athletic coach will plead guilty to charges in the college admissions scandal that has been rocking the nation.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Thirteen parents and one university athletic coach will plead guilty to charges in the college admissions scandal that has been rocking the nation. Of the parents who intend to plead guilty, five of them are from the Bay Area.

Bruce and Davina Isackson of Hillsborough intend to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. The Isacksons allegedly paid Rick Singer $600,000 to participate in the college entrance exam cheating scheme and college recruitment scheme.

Their daughter, Lauren, was a purported UCLA soccer recruit. Bruce Isackson will also plead guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to defraud the IRS after taking a tax deduction for the bribe.

LIST: These Bay Area residents have been charged in alleged college admissions scam

In a statement, the Isacksons wrote:

"No words can express how profoundly sorry we are for what we have done. Our duty as parents was to set a good example for our children and instead we have harmed and embarrassed them by our misguided decisions. We have also let down our family, friends, colleagues and our entire community. We have worked cooperatively with the prosecutors and will continue to do so as we take full responsibility for our bad judgment."

Agustin Huneeus of San Francisco also pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.

His daughter was a purported water polo player in a photoshopped picture. He worried word would get out, asking Singer if it could blow up in his face.

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Marjorie Klapper of Menlo Park is also pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. She reportedly paid $15,000 for the college entrance exam cheating scheme for her son.

Peter Sartorio of Menlo Park is also pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. Sartorio allegedly paid $15,000 for the college entrance cheating scheme for his daughter.

Actress Felicity Huffman is pleading guilty to the same charges.

In a statement, she writes:

"I am pleading guilty to the charge brought against me by the United States Attorney's Office.

I am in full acceptance of my guilt, and with deep regret and shame over what I have done, I accept full responsibility for my actions and will accept the consequences that stem from those actions.

I am ashamed of the pain I have caused my daughter, my family, my friends, my colleagues and the educational community. I want to apologize to them and, especially, I want to apologize to the students who work hard every day to get into college, and to their parents who make tremendous sacrifices to support their children and do so honestly.

My daughter knew absolutely nothing about my actions, and in my misguided and profoundly wrong way, I have betrayed her. This transgression toward her and the public I will carry for the rest of my life. My desire to help my daughter is no excuse to break the law or engage in dishonesty."

Here's the full list of those defendants agreeing to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud:

  • Gregory Abbott, 68, of New York, N.Y., together with his wife, Marcia, agreed to pay Singer $125,000 to participate in the college entrance exam cheating scheme for their daughter;
  • Marcia Abbott, 59, of New York, N.Y.;
  • Jane Buckingham, 50, of Beverly Hills, Calif., agreed to pay Singer $50,000 to participate in the college entrance exam cheating scheme for her son;
  • Gordon Caplan, 52, of Greenwich, Conn., agreed to pay Singer $75,000 to participate in the college entrance exam cheating scheme for his daughter;
  • Robert Flaxman, 62, of Laguna Beach, Calif., agreed to pay Singer $75,000 to participate in the college entrance exam cheating scheme for his daughter;
  • Felicity Huffman, 56, of Los Angeles, Calif., agreed to pay Singer at least $15,000 to participate in the college entrance exam cheating scheme for her oldest daughter;
  • Agustin Huneeus Jr., 53, of San Francisco, Calif., agreed to pay Singer $300,000 to participate in both the college entrance exam cheating scheme and the college recruitment scheme for his daughter;
  • Marjorie Klapper, 50, of Menlo Park, Calif., agreed to pay Singer $15,000 to participate in the college entrance exam cheating scheme for her son;
  • Peter Jan Sartorio, 53, of Menlo Park, Calif., agreed to pay Singer $15,000 to participate in the college entrance exam cheating scheme for his daughter;
  • Stephen Semprevivo, 53, of Los Angeles, Calif., agreed to pay Singer $400,000 to participate in the college recruitment scheme for his son; and
  • Devin Sloane, 53, of Los Angeles, Calif., agreed to pay Singer $250,000 to participate in the college recruitment scheme for his son.

In addition, Bruce Isackson, 61, and Davina Isackson, 55, of Hillsborough, Calif., were charged in a separate information and have both agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.

Bruce Isackson will also plead guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to defraud the IRS.

The Isacksons agreed to pay Singer an amount, ultimately totaling $600,000, to participate in the college entrance exam cheating scheme for their younger daughter and the college recruitment scheme for both of their daughters.

The Isacksons also underpaid their federal income taxes by deducting the bribe payments as purported charitable contributions. The Isacksons are cooperating with the government's investigation.

RELATED: College Admissions Scandal: Felicity Huffman to plead guilty in alleged scam

Michael Center, 54, of Austin, Texas, the former head coach of men's tennis at the University of Texas at Austin, was charged in a third Information and has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.

In 2015, Center personally accepted $60,000 in cash from Singer, as well as $40,000 directed to the University of Texas tennis program, in exchange for designating the child of one of Singer's clients as a tennis recruit, thereby facilitating his admission to the University of Texas.

All of the defendants who improperly took tax deductions for the bribe payments have agreed to cooperate with the IRS to pay back taxes.

Plea hearings have not yet been scheduled by the court.

The charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.

The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the money laundering.

The charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States provides for a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S.

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