Later, in 2018, Wilson worked with the college fixer to get his twin daughters into Harvard and Stanford universities as sailing or crew recruits, although he acknowledged to Singer that his girls would not actually have to participate, prosecutors and court papers claim. Wilson laughed and asked Singer: "Is there a two for one special? Mr. Singer told investigators that although the daughter played basketball in high school, she was not good enough to be recruited. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Singer had an in at USC, which made the universityit only admits about 11% of applicants and expects SAT scores in the 1360 to 1530 rangean attractive target. [4] In October 2021, he was found guilty, and in February 2022 he was sentenced to serve one year and one day in federal prison. Opening statements begin on Monday for the first parents to face trial in a sweeping college admissions case that exposed the role that money, athletics and family privilege play in the competition for coveted seats at brand-name schools. On the fourth day of testimony in the trial of former casino executive Gamal Abdelaziz and another parent, Rachel Sih was shown her high school yearbook, which included the same photo of a girl playing basketball that was used to try to get the defendants daughter into the University of Southern California as a basketball recruit. 1-year sentence for bribe to secure daughter's USC admission is Rania Genena on LinkedIn: I'm excited to announce starting a new Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. Meanwhile, Abdelaziz was accused of paying $300,000 to designate his daughter as a USC basketball team recruit in order to get her admitted to the university. Heinel, Singer reported, fibbed that the daughter would be out for six to eight months.. In a call prosecutors played for the jury, Singer told Wilson that it "doesnt matter" what sport they were paired with and that he would "make them a sailor or something. At the hearing in Boston federal court, one of Mr. Wilsons lawyers, Michael Kendall, told the judge, Nathaniel M. Gorton, that the defense would present evidence that rebuts any thought that this is a fraud on U.S.C.. Abdelaziz, a former casino executive from Las Vegas, is charged with paying $300,000 to get his daughter into the University of Southern California as a basketball recruit. First Case to Go to Trial in College Admissions Scandal Ends With Another actress, Felicity Huffman, who pleaded guilty to paying $15,000 to inflate her daughters SAT score, served 11 days in prison. The business executives John B. Wilson and Gamal Abdelaziz each received a long sentence, but in appeals, their lawyers say the key claim against them is legally flawed. Normally, the prosecution would want such a key player to describe the conspiracy to the jury. Nazik is a senior employee of the family planning agency, and her husband, Dr. Hussein, is a gynecologist and obstetrician. 'Varsity Blues' Trial Promises Fresh Insights in Old Scandal Abdelaziz, of Las Vegas, is accused of paying $300,000 to the sham charity run by the scheme's mastermind admissions consultant Rick Singer to get his daughter into USC as a basketball recruit. [8][2][6][5][9][10][11] He was then president and chief operating officer of MGM Resorts International, and then MGM Hospitality in September 2010. Turkey had declared the Fourth Level Alert In this context, colleges are the victims. Abdelaziz, for his part, pledged that if school officials called about his daughter, hed stick to the tall tale about an injured basketball player. He and John Wilson, a private equity financier, were also the first defendants to stand trial in the federal investigation known as Operation Varsity Blues. In the end, this trial will unfold just as this years high school seniors are applying to college. Gamal Abdelaziz, a former hotel and casino executive, is accused of paying $300,000 to get his daughter admitted to the University of Southern California as a basketball player based on false. [2][13], In January 2013 Aziz was appointed president and chief operating officer of Wynn Resorts Development LLC, overseeing expansion opportunities. CW-1: But, yeah, it was great. Prosecutors said Abdelaziz paid $300,000 to buy his daughter's way into the University of Southern California. Abdelaziz has spent the majority of his 65 years working hard and helping others, the lawyers wrote, describing Mr. Abdelazizs rise from poverty in Cairo, Egypt, where he was born, to top positions at MGM Grand, MGM Hospitality and Wynn Resorts. Aziz, 64, and Wilson, 62, sat emotionless as the verdict was read out loud finding them both guilty of conspiring to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and conspiring to commit federal programs bribery. Attorneys deliver final arguments in first college admissions - UPI Prosecutors have alleged that Abdelaziz paid $300,000 to Singer in 2017 to get his daughter, who didnt qualify for her high school varsity basketball team, into USC as a basketball recruit. She was supposedly a basketball recruit, though she didn't play on her high. After the son was admitted, prosecutors say, Mr. Wilson paid Mr. Singer $220,000, of which Mr. Singer sent $100,000 to the U.S.C. In September 2018, Mr. Abdelazizs daughter enrolled at U.S.C., but she did not join the basketball team, prosecutors said. "If John Wilson believed the stories that Mr. Singer told him and he clearly did that proves he acted in good faith and you must find him not guilty," he said. All rights reserved. Abdelaziz, a former Wynn Resorts executive, is accused of paying Singer $300,000 in 2018 to have his daughter admitted to USC as a fake basketball recruit, even though she didn't make her high . With the help of Donna Heinel, U.S.C.s former senior associate athletic director, Mr. Abdelazizs daughter was admitted in 2018 as a basketball recruit, the documents say. Attorney Brian Kelly said Abdelaziz never saw the girls phony athletic profile and never agreed to bribe anyone. Sihs testimony was a blow to the defense of Gamal Abdelaziz, who is on trial with former Staples and Gap Inc. executive John Wilson on charges they paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to help get their children into USC by falsely presenting them as athletic recruits. 2 parents convicted in 1st trial of college bribery scandal - Boston.com Ron DeSantis presidential prospects, Taft football coach Jeff Kearin steps down in support of school faculty member, Baram and Tioumentsev win World Junior title hours after their coach, Todd Sand, suffers heart attack, Gracie Abrams behind Good Riddance message in Los Angeles sky, Alpine Village shopkeepers get confirmation: theyre being evicted, Snow collapses roof of Goodwin and Sons, Crestlines only grocery store, $31 million goes to San Fernando Valley light-rail line and to engage community, Tax filing deadline moves to mid-October for most Californians, New crew from US, Russia and UAE arrives at space station but not without docking glitch, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Judge Nathaniel Gorton will sentence Abdelaziz in February. After a four-week trial, Mr. Abdelaziz and Mr. Wilson were both found guilty in October of charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and fraud. The truth is simple: John is Singers victim, not once but twice," Wilsons attorney, Michael Kendall, told jurors. Judge Gorton has not yet ruled on them. [16], As of March 2019, Aziz was chairman and CEO of Legacy Hospitality Group since January 2017, according to his LinkedIn page. Former Wake Forest University volleyball coach William Ferguson could avoid prosecution in the college admissions bribery scam if he pays a $50,000 fine and follow conditions outlined by federal . A lawyer for Abdelaziz accused prosecutors of cherry picking from the phone calls to make it look like his client did something wrong and not calling key witnesses like Singer that he said would prove they have a weak case. By paying $300,000 to have her depicted as a top Trojans basketball recruit, the hotel and casino executive boosted her admissions chances from uncertain to near guaranteed. U.S.C. Defense lawyers have claimed that the parents were duped by Singer and led to believe that their payments were legitimate donations. (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images). I write and consult on federal criminal law and criminal justice. Abdelaziz in 2017 agreed to pay co-conspirator William Rick Singer the $300,000 bribe to secure the admission of his daughter to USC as a purported basketball recruit. ", Wilson laughed and responded: "Is there a two for one special? Gamal Abdelaziz arrives at federal court, Oct. 7, 2021, in Boston. Abdelaziz later wired $300,000 to Singers sham charity, the Key Worldwide Foundation, in exchange for the fraudulent admission. Gamal Abdelaziz, 65, of Las Vegas, Nev., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to one year and one day in prison, two years of supervised release, 400 hours of community service and a fine of $250,000.
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