Updated at 6:28 p.m. April 8
The so-called “brains” behind the college admissions scheme known as Varsity Blues was sentenced on Friday to four months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
Harvard graduate Mark Riddell has admitted that he accepted cash to take the SAT and ACT for the children of wealthy parents, or, on other occasions, pose as a proctor and correct the students' answers on those exams. In addition to prison time, Riddell was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and forfeit the nearly $240,000 he accepted as part of the scheme.
Riddell's cheating was part of wider scheme to get the kids fraudulently admitted to selective colleges and universities, including Georgetown and the University of Southern California. The former prep school administrator conspired with William "Rick" Singer, who has admitted to bribing test administrators, in order to cheat on 27 exams between 2011 and 2019. Singer previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
Two years ago, when Riddell pleaded guilty, he told the court he was profoundly sorry for playing a key role in the nationwide scandal that included celebrities, business leaders and athletic coaches.
The case has captured the world’s attention and revealed an ugly side to this country’s college admissions process.
