BOSTON — A former Florida prep school administrator pleaded guilty Friday to taking college entrance exams for students in exchange for cash to help wealthy parents get their kids into elite universities.
Mark Riddell admitted to secretly taking the ACT and SAT in place of students, or correcting their answers, as part of a nationwide college admissions cheating scheme, which has ensnared celebrities, business executives and athletic coaches at sought-after schools such as Stanford and Yale.
Mr. Riddell, who has been cooperating with authorities since February in the hopes of getting a lesser sentence, pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges.
The 36-year-old, wearing a dark suit and glasses, looked straight ahead and showed no emotion as assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Rosen explained that prosecutors will seek a sentence at the low end of the guidelines, which call for 33 to 41 months in prison. Mr. Riddell’s lawyer declined comment and Mr. Riddell left the courthouse without answering questions from reporters.
He said in a statement last month that he is “profoundly sorry” and takes full responsibility for his actions.
The Harvard graduate oversaw college entrance exam preparation at IMG Academy, a Bradenton school founded by renowned tennis coach Nick Bollettieri that bills itself as the world’s largest sports academy. Mr. Riddell has since been fired.
Mr. Riddell was among 50 people charged last month in the scam, which embroiled elite universities across the country and laid bare the lengths to which status-seeking parents will go to secure their children a coveted spot. Others arrested include actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin along with Ms. Loughlin’s fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli.
Authorities say the admissions consultant at the center of the scheme, Rick Singer, bribed test administrators to allow Mr. Riddell to pretend to proctor the exams for students so he could cheat on the tests. Mr. Singer typically paid Mr. Riddell $10,000 per test to rig the scores, prosecutors said.
First Published: April 13, 2019, 4:00 a.m.
