Couple to plead guilty in college-admission scam
BOSTON — A California couple have agreed to plead guilty to paying $250,000 to get their daughter into the University of Southern California as a fake volleyball recruit.
Diane Blake and Todd Blake are plead guilty in front of a judge at a future date, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Boston said in a statement Friday. The couple from Ross, California, had initially pleaded not guilty, news outlets previously reported.
The Blakes were accused of tapping William “Rick” Singer, who authorities say was the orchestrator of the sweeping nationwide scheme, to facilitate their daughter's admission into USC. According to the indictment of the couple posted on the U.S. attorney's website, Todd Blake sent a check for $50,000 to USC Women’s Athletics and wired $200,000 to a sham charity set up by Singer.
USC spokesperson Lauren Bartlett said in an email that the university would not comment on the case.
Diane Blake, 55, will plead guilty to a count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest-services wire and mail fraud, her plea agreement states. Todd Blake, 54, will plead guilty to the same charge, and also to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, his plea agreement states.
Per their plea agreements, Diane Blake has agreed to serve six weeks in prison, while Todd Blake has agreed to serve four months. Each also agreed to a $125,000 fine, two years on supervised release and 100 hours of community service.
Charges of conspiracy to commit federal-programs bribery and conspiracy to commit money laundering against both Blakes will be dismissed under the plea agreements.
An email to the Blakes' attorneys wasn't immediately returned.
Singer pleaded guilty and is cooperating with the government’s investigation into what authorities have dubbed “Operation Varsity Blues” — a series of indictments that have rocked the worlds of higher education, sports and entertainment. Dozens of wealthy parents, athletic coaches and others were charged last year in the scheme.