Two Key Collaborators in College Admissions Scam Plead Guilty

Mark Riddell and Rudy Meredith, two men that were recently accused of collaborating in the largest college admissions scandal ever discovered have pleaded guilty to several federal charges.

On March 12, 2019, federal prosecutors announced the discovery of a large conspiracy to influence admission decisions at several prominent universities. Wealthy families paid over $25 million to college admissions counselor William Rick Singer over the course of several years, up until last year, so he would bribe college officials and alter test scores. The services were hidden under the guise of the nonprofit organization “Key Worldwide Foundation”, which allowed him to hide the true nature of the organization, as well as avoid paying taxes on “donations”.

Involving several firms, multiple individuals, and a few prominent celebrities, the scandal has led to the indictment of 50 suspects. Among these suspects include Mr. Singer, dozens of college personnel, co-conspirators, and several parents that were directly involved in the fraud. Of the parents arrested include “Full House” actress Lori Loughlin and her husband.

Of the many co-conspirators include Mark Riddell and Rudy Meredith. Riddell is a Harvard alumnus and former director of college exam preparation at IMG academy. He was paid by Singer to take admissions tests for his clients, pretending to be their children. He did not have any prior access to the tests, but was simply very good at taking them. According to CNN, “Riddell typically was paid about $10,000 per test”

Rudy Meredith is the former women’s soccer coach at Yale University. He was involved in the scandal by accepting bribes from Singer to falsely identify applicants as athletic recruits, resulting in admission to the university.

Just recently, both Riddell and Meredith have signed plea agreements with federal prosecutors. Meredith pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and one count of honest services wire fraud. In exchange, federal prosecutors are recommending a lower prison sentence than the original possibility of 20 years, along with a fine of $866,000. Meredith also agreed to testify if necessary.

Riddell has pleaded guilty to “one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering”, according to CNN. In exchange, federal prosecutors are recommending a lower prison sentence than the original possibility of 20 years along with a fine of $239,449.42.

These plea agreements are most likely the result of Riddell and Meredith’s substantial cooperation with federal investigators.