William “Rick” Singer, the mastermind of a nationwide college admissions cheating scheme, can work as a college consultant again so long as he discloses his criminal record to new clients, a federal judge ruled on Monday.
Singer, 62, pleaded guilty in 2019 to racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and other charges in connection with the scandal, dubbed Operation Varsity Blues. He was sentenced to 3½ years in prison in 2023, but released to a halfway house in Los Angeles last year.
Upon his release from prison, Singer launched a new company, ID Future Stars, to advise prospective undergraduates on their college applications. Chief District Judge Denise Casper ruled that Singer can continue his work as a college consultant so long as the following statement is “prominently” on his company’s website:
“In March 2019, Rick Singer pled guilty to federal charges including racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and obstruction of justice for his role in what was widely-publicized as the ‘Varsity Blues’ college admissions scheme,” the statement reads.
“Specifically, Mr. Singer admitted to, among other things: bribing standardized test proctors and administrators to engage in cheating on college entrance exams (i.e., the SAT and ACT); falsifying students’ academic transcripts by paying third parties to take classes in their names; falsifying students’ college applications with fake awards, athletic activities, and fabricated essays; and bribing college athletic coaches and administrators, through purported donations to their programs and personal bribes, to designate students as athletic recruits based on falsified athletic credentials,” it continues.
“As part of the scheme, Mr. Singer took in more than $25 million from his clients, from which he made payments to co-conspirators totaling more than $7 million, and transferred, spent, or otherwise used more than $15 million for his own benefit. On January 4, 2023, a federal court in Boston sentenced Mr. Singer to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay more than $10 million in restitution and to forfeit assets totaling more than $8.7 million.” it concludes.
Casper added that written copies of the statement must be provided to parents, students or other entities seeking to retain Singer.
As of Tuesday morning, the statement appeared to be absent from the site.
ID Future Stars did not immediately return a request for comment.
The company’s website says that ID Future Stars caters to thousands of applicants across the United States and abroad and promises “a 80-96% acceptance rate for first-choice schools and over 90% within the list of their top 3 choices.”
“Impressively, 100% of our clients come from direct referrals, reflecting our reputation and the trust families place in us,” the company’s website reads. “Our expertise lies in navigating the complexities of the college admissions process.”
More than 50 people, including parents and university coaches, were convicted in the case. The scandal drew particular attention for ensnaring Hollywood actors Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, who hired Singer to help secure their daughters into elite universities.
Both actors served short stints in prison for their involvement in the case.
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