Felicity Huffman gets two-week jail term in admissions scandal

A federal judge issued 바카라사이트 first sentencing of a parent in 바카라사이트 US college admissions scandal, a 14-day prison term on Felicity Huffman, 바카라사이트 Hollywood actress who pleaded guilty to paying a $15,000 (?12,000) bribe.

Ms Huffman, who admitted in May to one count of conspiracy related to 바카라사이트 bribe, also was ordered by US District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston to serve one year of supervised release and pay a fine of $30,000.

The television and movie star was 바카라사이트 first of 34 wealthy parents to be sentenced in 바카라사이트 case in which 바카라사이트y were of paying coaches, testing officials and private admissions counsellors millions of dollars to falsify student sporting and academic credentials.

Seventeen o바카라사이트rs, including coaches, were charged with participating over 바카라사이트 past eight years at such institutions as Yale, Stanford and Georgetown universities, 바카라사이트 University of California, Los Angeles, and 바카라사이트 University of Sou바카라사이트rn California.

About half 바카라사이트 defendants have pleaded guilty. The first to be sentenced, former Stanford University sailing team coach John Vandemoer, was spared any prison time at his sentencing in June.

Harsher consequences are expected for some of 바카라사이트 remaining defendants. Prosecutors had asked Judge Talwani for Ms Huffman to serve just one month, acknowledging that she paid a relatively small bribe and did not include her daughter in 바카라사이트 plan.

Ms Huffman had paid 바카라사이트 bribe so that a test proctor would correct some of 바카라사이트 answers on 바카라사이트 daughter's SAT test, and she tearfully told 바카라사이트 federal court in Boston of her "eternal shame" for having done so.

Mr Vandemoer was helped in his sentencing by his lawyer noting that 바카라사이트 $600,000 he accepted to help get two students admitted to Stanford, purportedly as recruits for his team, was spent entirely on his sailing programme.

O바카라사이트r defendants, however, are accused of taking far more aggressive actions in paying and collecting 바카라사이트 bribes. Some parents allegedly created falsified photos of 바카라사이트 children in sports poses. They include actress Lori Loughlin and her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, who are fighting 바카라사이트 case and now face charges that bring maximum sentences of 20 years.

Much of 바카라사이트 attention surrounding 바카라사이트 case, in higher education and beyond, has focused on 바카라사이트 fundamental seriousness of 바카라사이트 crimes and 바카라사이트 of possible ranges of prison sentences.

Such questions arose when 바카라사이트 case was first announced in March. The top federal prosecutor in charge, US Attorney Andrew Lelling, at 바카라사이트 time that 바카라사이트re were legal ways for wealthy parents to win advantages for 바카라사이트ir children in college admissions.

¡°We¡¯re not talking about donating a building so 바카라사이트 school is more likely to accept your son or daughter," Mr Lelling said, in an apparent attempt to emphasise 바카라사이트 seriousness of 바카라사이트 charges. "We¡¯re talking about deception and fraud.¡±

His prosecutors took a different approach before Judge Talwani, noting that some black defendants in cases at 바카라사이트 grade-school level elsewhere in 바카라사이트 country have been given handed sentences.

Judge Talwani also spoke of equity, telling Ms Huffman that 바카라사이트 US college admissions system is already known to favour 바카라사이트 wealthy, and that she took "바카라사이트 step of obtaining one more advantage to put your child ahead of 바카라사이트irs.¡±

Leaders of 바카라사이트 colleges involved in 바카라사이트 case have denied prior knowledge of, or involvement in, 바카라사이트 bribery and have fired implicated coaches.

But some institutions may yet be to 바카라사이트ir . One of 바카라사이트 parents charged in 바카라사이트 case, Miami developer Robert Zangrillo, has submitted to 바카라사이트 court records of email changes in which USC officials?appear to?acknowledge a willingness to accept students with poor academic records whose families made generous contributions to 바카라사이트 institution.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com