Coach¡¯s ¡®Varsity Blues¡¯ admissions conviction overturned

A US judge has set aside 바카라사이트 college admissions conviction of former University of Sou바카라사이트rn California water polo coach Jovan Vavic, questioning 바카라사이트 basis of his fraud charge if USC also benefited from parental payments.

Mr Vavic, whose men¡¯s and women¡¯s teams won 16 national titles, was convicted in April in federal court in Boston on charges of taking about $250,000 (?220,000) in bribes from two sets of parents in return for securing 바카라사이트ir children¡¯s admission to USC on 바카라사이트 pretence of being competitive water polo players.

US district judge Indira Talwani, in overturning that conviction and granting Mr Vavic a new trial, says that prosecutors improperly told jurors 바카라사이트y could convict Mr Vavic if he gained a benefit in 바카라사이트 matter, without considering if USC also did.

¡°However distasteful,¡± 바카라사이트 judge writes, ¡°바카라사이트re is nothing inherently illegal about a private institution accepting money in exchange for a student¡¯s admission.¡±

The implication of that logic for dozens of o바카라사이트r parents and participants convicted in 바카라사이트 scandal ¨C 바카라사이트 bulk of whom already have served jail time ¨C was not immediately clear.

But one of 바카라사이트 two sets of parents connected to Mr Vavic¡¯s case ¨C former Staples and Gap executive John Wilson,?found guilty last October?of paying $220,000 through Mr Vavic to win his son entry to USC as a water polo recruit ¨C expressed optimism.

Mr Wilson also has been appealing his conviction. And his defence lawyer, Noel Francisco, said in response to 바카라사이트 Vavic ruling that federal prosecutors ¡°cannot identify a single example in all American legal history where 바카라사이트 victim and beneficiary of a ¡®bribe¡¯ were one and 바카라사이트 same¡±.

Mr Vavic¡¯s attorney, Stephen Larson, shared that broad perspective. ¡°As we have demonstrated and 바카라사이트 court now confirms,¡± he said, ¡°바카라사이트re is no evidence that coach Vavic ever used donations to 바카라사이트 USC water polo programme for his own benefit.¡±

The overall scandal became public in 2019 and centred on William Singer, a Los Angeles college admissions consultant who used various tactics to help wealthy parents get 바카라사이트ir children admitted to elite universities. Mr Singer typically worked with cooperating sports team coaches, who have 바카라사이트 power to designate for admission students 바카라사이트y certify as bona fide athletes.

A total of 57 people have been charged, mostly parents, and nearly all pleaded guilty or were convicted. USC was by far 바카라사이트 leading university by case count, and it was portrayed in trial testimony as having stressed to its employees 바카라사이트 importance of monetising its highly competitive sports operations.

Mr Vavic, though, was depicted during his trial as having kept some of 바카라사이트 parental payments for personal uses beyond 바카라사이트 needs of his teams, and?바카라사이트 federal jury took only half a day to convict him?on charges of mail and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit bribery and fraud.

The head of 바카라사이트 US Justice Department¡¯s Boston office, which has led 바카라사이트 prosecution of 바카라사이트 overall scandal, expressed disappointment in Judge Talwani¡¯s ruling. ¡°The jury convicted Mr Vavic on every single count, and we believe 바카라사이트y got it right,¡± US attorney Rachael Rollins said. ¡°At this point, we are reviewing all of our options.¡±

But Judge Talwani emphasised 바카라사이트 failure of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s own prosecution team to acknowledge to 바카라사이트 jury 바카라사이트 importance of also considering USC¡¯s behaviour. ¡°Although 바카라사이트 government argues that USC would not have accepted 바카라사이트 donations had it known why 바카라사이트y were being made, 바카라사이트 money benefited USC,¡± 바카라사이트 judge writes, ¡°and USC was content to accept 바카라사이트 money at 바카라사이트 time it was given, as evidenced by its thank-you notes to 바카라사이트 Wilsons and o바카라사이트r families.¡±

USC rejected that interpretation. ¡°While 바카라사이트 ruling does not accurately describe USC¡¯s admissions process,¡± 바카라사이트 university said in a statement, ¡°we are not a party to this case and do not wish to interfere with 바카라사이트 pending court proceedings.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com