Mark Liddell, 39, who helped wealthy parents buy their children’s career paths to college, was also sentenced to two years in prison. According to Caroline Ferguson, a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts law firm, he was fined $ 1,000 and ordered to confiscate $ 239,449.
Prior to the sentence, former USC water polo coach Jovan Vavic was convicted of conspiracy and fraud that he accepted for bribes to facilitate student admission to the fraud.
According to the prosecutor, the standardized exam savant, Liddell, was either paid to the Ace SAT and ACT on behalf of the student, or submitted after correcting the student’s response.
CNN asked Liddell’s lawyer for comment.
Authorities arrested and prosecuted Liddell, dozens of parents, college coaches, and managers in a vast 2019 investigation known as “Operation Varsity Blues.”
The prosecution said Liddell had something to do with William “Rick” singer, a former college admissions coach who mastered the fraud.
According to prosecutors, Liddell was a major figure in the test fraud.
According to prosecutors, Liddell was paid $ 10,000 per test.
“He was a really smart man,” Massachusetts US lawyer Andrew Lelling said at a press conference in March 2019. “He didn’t have any secondary information about the correct answer. He was just smart enough to get a nearly perfect score on the exam and adjust the score.”
“One of the biggest scandals in academia’s history”
Rachael Rollins, a US lawyer in Massachusetts, said her office “thanks” for the Verdict in the Vavic case, which is part of what she called “probably one of the biggest scandals in academia’s history.” Said that.
“It’s a conservative statement to say that the act in this case was blamed,” Rollins said in a press conference. “Rich, powerful, famous, privileged and qualified, dripping and using their money and influence to steal college entrance spots from more qualified and qualified students.”
Vavic received a bribe from Singer.
On Friday, Vavic’s leading lawyer, Stephen Larson, said he was “disappointed” by the jury’s decision that Vavic was guilty of all charges against him.
“We are disappointed with the jury’s decision, but we respect it,” Larson said.
Most people accused in the “Operation Varsity Bruce” investigation pleaded guilty
CNN’s Laura Ly, Travis Nichols, Braden Walker, Mark Morales and Eric Levenson contributed to this report.
