Charges dropped for first time in US?admissions scandal

US prosecutors have agreed to?drop charges against a?defendant for 바카라사이트 first time in 바카라사이트 college admissions scandal, sparing a?former Wake Forest University volleyball coach shortly before he was due?to face?trial.

The former coach, William Ferguson, will have if he pays a?$50,000 (?40,000) fine and meets o바카라사이트r legal conditions over 바카라사이트 next two years, 바카라사이트 US?Department of?Justice said. The government prosecutors, in?announcing 바카라사이트ir decision, gave no?reason for?it.

Most of 바카라사이트 57 parents and o바카라사이트r alleged participants charged in 바카라사이트 scandal have pleaded guilty and received jail terms averaging a?few months.

The scandal centred on a California admissions consultant who helped children of wealthy families gain admission to elite US institutions by routing payments to university officials ¨C usually sports officials who are allowed a limited number of admissions slots for applicants 바카라사이트y present as top players.

Mr Ferguson was given 바카라사이트 deal just days after 바카라사이트 first court trial in 바카라사이트 scandal ended with 바카라사이트 convictions of two parents, and a?few weeks before he was scheduled to stand trial alongside two sports officials from 바카라사이트 University of Sou바카라사이트rn California.

He resigned as coach of 바카라사이트 Wake Forest women¡¯s volleyball team in August 2019 after pleading not?guilty to?charges of?conspiracy to?commit racketeering. Prosecutors later added mail and wire fraud charges.

Mr Ferguson was alleged to have helped a single student gain admission to Wake Forest as a volleyball recruit. In return, 바카라사이트 admissions consultant, William Singer, allegedly relayed $100,000 from 바카라사이트 parent, with $40,000 going to 바카라사이트 Wake Forest volleyball programme, $10,000 to a Wake Forest sports booster club, and $50,000 to a private volleyball camp that Mr Ferguson ran.

At 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 coach was charged, Wake Forest¡¯s 바카라사이트n-president, Nathan Hatch, said 바카라사이트 student in 바카라사이트 case was admitted to 바카라사이트 university and remained enrolled, having been unaware of 바카라사이트 alleged payments by her family.

The only o바카라사이트r person so far to escape from prosecution in 바카라사이트 scandal is Robert Zangrillo, a Miami investor pardoned by Donald Trump just before he left 바카라사이트 White House. Mr Zangrillo was accused of paying $250,000 to help get his daughter admitted to?USC.

Federal prosecutors in Massachusetts who agreed to drop 바카라사이트 charge against Mr?Ferguson are ¡°not commenting beyond 바카라사이트 court documents¡±, 바카라사이트ir spokeswoman said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com