Sep 26, 2019

LA business executive sentenced in college admissions scandal

Jacob Knutson

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani on Thursday sentenced Los Angeles businessman Stephen Semprevivo to 4 months in prison for paying $400,000 to have his son admitted into Georgetown University as a fictitious tennis recruit in the ongoing college admissions scandal, according to USA Today.

The state of play: Semprevivo's sentencing also includes 2 years of supervised release, 500 hours of community service and a fine of $100,000. He is the 3rd parent of 35 charged to receive a sentence in the scheme, led by consultant William Singer.

Context: Semprevivo, the former chief strategy officer at sales firm Cydcor, pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.

Federal prosecutors recommended that Semprevivo spend 13 months in prison, pay a $95,000 fine, 12 months of supervised release and restitution of $105,000.
Talwani on Tuesday sentenced another LA-based business executive, Devin Sloane, to 4 months in prison and a $95,000 fine for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud after he paid Singer $250,000 to enroll his son into the University of Southern California as a water polo recruit.
Actress Felicity Huffman earlier this month received a 14-day prison sentence and a $30,000 fine for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud after she paid Singer $15,000 to have her daughter's SAT score covertly corrected.

What's next: New York attorney Gordon Caplan faces sentencing on Oct. 3 after he pleaded guilty in April to paying $75,000 for his daughter's ACT exam to be corrected.

Go deeper: The major developments in the college admissions scandal

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LA business executive sentenced in college admissions scandal

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