Americans have been abuzz with a whistleblower case concerning college admissions. Wealthy parents have been paying a fake nonprofit corporation to either have paid test-takers boost their children’s college admission test scores or to have college coaches claim that their children were top athletes deserving of special admissions considerations. The universities involved are some of the tops in the nation, including Stanford and Yale, along with some second-tier colleges such as USC, Georgetown, and the University of Texas. This entire enterprise was brought down by a single whistleblower and has snared dozens of people, including top college coaches, attorneys, and several Hollywood stars. Because this case has received so much press, I have devoted a blog post to describing its facts.
Are you considering becoming a whistleblower? You will need the help of an experienced whistleblower attorney to guide you through the process. Contact Barrett Law now at (800) 707-9577 to attain the advice you need.
A Three-Part Scam
As part of operation “Varsity Blues,” the Department of Justice has announced charges against dozens of individuals for participating in a long-running college admissions scam. The scam had three different components. First, some parents paid to have someone else take their child’s ACT or SAT for them. That involved the child being diagnosed with a disability and receiving more time on the test as an accommodation. Once the child received more time, crooked test administrators allowed fake adult test-takers to take the test in the child’s place, boosting his or her score considerably.
Second, other parent paid to have a false athletics profile created for their children. Coaches at prestigious colleges were then able to subvert the regular admissions process, bringing in these “athletes” through the recruiting process. The coaches were paid huge bonuses to “recruit” these students, who were not athletes and never joined the athletics teams once they were admitted.
Finally, the parents involved in both of the above schemes were then allowed to present their bribes and fees as tax-deductible donations to the ringleader of this scam, William “Rick” Singer, who ran a college counseling business for the well-heeled. He allegedly collected over $25 million as part of his scheme. While all of the above remains allegations at this point, the evidence supporting the allegations, including audiotaped conversations between Singer and the parents, coaches, and administrators, is damning.
This entire scheme was reported by a whistleblower being criminally investigated for other illegal acts. His confession to the Department of Justice, in that case, piqued law enforcement’s interest in this case, which involves, wire fraud, tax fraud, and conspiracy charges for dozens of players. Thus far, no children who received academic preference as a result of the scam have been charged.
What Should You Do if You are Considering Making a Whistleblower Claim?
Are you considering filing a whistleblower case? The reward for submitting a successful claim can be significant, 15% to 30% of any amount recovered by the government, but you will only receive this sort of award with the help of an experienced whistleblower attorney. The IRS Whistleblower Office receives thousands of potential whistleblower claims each year, and only those that meet their requirements and are reported in a way that triggers their interest are acted upon. Careful pleading and an organized approach to gathering evidence are critical to this process and will require the help of an experienced whistleblower counsel. Contact Barrett Law now at (800) 707-9577.
Experienced Mississippi Whistleblower Lawyer Barrett can provide you with the advice you will need to file a successful whistleblower case. Having expert legal advice by your side can mean the difference between receiving your share of a whistleblower reward and losing your career and livelihood. Call us today.
