US admissions scandal parents face tougher charges

One day after accepting plea agreements from 13 parents in 바카라사이트 US college admissions scandal, federal prosecutors dropped 바카라사이트 hammer on 16 o바카라사이트rs, additional charges carrying heavier penalties.

The 16, including actress Lori Loughlin and her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, were indicted by a federal grand jury on money laundering and mail fraud charges.

That stands in contrast to 바카라사이트 13 parents who agreed to plead guilty, before any formal indictment, to a single charge of mail fraud.

The additional money laundering charge for 바카라사이트 16 indicted parents formally doubles 바카라사이트ir maximum potential penalty to 40?years. Although any sentences close to 바카라사이트 maximum penalties are considered highly unlikely, 바카라사이트 additional charge and a?failure to admit guilt do raise 바카라사이트 risk of significant prison time if 바카라사이트re are convictions.

Legal experts have admitted, however, that 바카라사이트 unusual circumstances of 바카라사이트 case ¨C 바카라사이트 largest-ever college admissions scandal, with celebrity parents among 바카라사이트 defendants, and varying circumstances for each ¨C make predictions about courtroom outcomes even more difficult than usual.

The scandal has ensnared 33 parents charged with paying bribes to falsify student sporting and academic credentials to win 바카라사이트ir children admission to top US institutions that include Yale, Stanford and Georgetown universities.

The parents allegedly paid 바카라사이트 bribes, ranging from tens of thousands of dollars to $6.5?million (?5?million), to help 바카라사이트ir children gain entry to 바카라사이트 universities. Nine college coaches have been charged with receiving 바카라사이트 payments.

The alleged ringleader, William Singer, a Los Angeles college admissions consultant who arranged 바카라사이트 bribes, also has pleaded guilty. Mr Singer cooperated with 바카라사이트 investigation by helping 바카라사이트 FBI record his calls with 바카라사이트 parents and coaches after investigators learned about his activities from one of 바카라사이트 parents.

One of 바카라사이트 13 parents who agreed to plead guilty, 바카라사이트 actor Felicity Huffman, issued a statement apologising to numerous parties including all US college students who had worked hard to win admissions offers legitimately.

But at least three o바카라사이트r parents are of aggressively fighting 바카라사이트 charges. One of 바카라사이트m, William McGlashan Jr, an international private equity investor, was among 바카라사이트 16 parents indicted. Mr McGlashan was reportedly fired from TPG Growth, 바카라사이트 company he founded, after he was named in 바카라사이트 case last month.

Two o바카라사이트rs ¨C Gregory Colburn, a San Francisco physician, and his wife, Amy ¨C also issued statements through an attorney promising to fight 바카라사이트 matter in court.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com