Mass College Admission Cheating Scandal

[bigup2dahorns 3343]

Las Vegas Review Journal:

One of the nearly 50 people named Tuesday in the national college bribery scandal was a San Diego media executive who recently relocated to Las Vegas.

Elisabeth Meyer Kimmel, 54, is accused of buying two of her children into elite schools on either side of the country: her daughter, Katharine, into Georgetown University in 2013 and her son Thomas into University of Southern California last fall.

Court records allege she paid $275,000 for the Georgetown arrangements through a family foundation and $200,000 for the USC arrangements. She faces charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.

Nothing in the records indicated that Kimmel’s children knew about her alleged actions.

Kimmel is the owner and president of Midwest Television Inc., based out of Champaign, Illinois, records show. The company previously owned KFMB-TV, a CBS-affiliated station in San Diego, as well as two San Diego radio stations. But in 2017, she sold them for $325 million to TEGNA Inc., a publicly traded broadcast company and spinoff of Gannet.

The TV station’s current news director declined to comment Tuesday. A story about the scandal on the station’s CBS 8 website noted that Kimmel “owned KFMB Stations for decades.”

Katharine and Thomas Kimmel both attended The Bishop’s School, a private, Episcopal college preparatory school in La Jolla, California, where the family previously lived.

Katharine Kimmel was a decorated field hockey player. Thomas Kimmel in 2016 traveled with his mother to Washington, D.C., where they met with San Diego’s congressional representatives and lobbied on behalf of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, according to a news post from the high school.

Late last year, Kimmel and her husband, Gregory, moved into a penthouse in Turnberry Towers Las Vegas, located just east of the Strip, records show. A call to the residence by a gate attendant Tuesday was not answered.

The family does not appear to have any immediate ties to Jimmy Kimmel, the late-night television host who was raised in Las Vegas and attended Clark High School.

An affidavit in support of a criminal complaint, unsealed Tuesday, alleges that Elisabeth Kimmel “participated in the college recruitment scheme by conspiring to use bribery to facilitate her daughter’s admission to Georgetown as a purported tennis recruit, and her son’s admission to USC as a purported track recruit,”

Her daughter graduated from Georgetown in 2017 but was never a member of the tennis team, according to the document.

Her son — who is not on the USC track team — received an email from an adviser ahead of the fall 2018 semester, asking about scheduling times for USC track practice. He assumed it was a mistake and was generally “unaware of the circumstances surrounding his admission to USC,” according to the affidavit.

Officials at USC did not respond to a request for comment as to whether the son’s enrollment status would change as a result of his mother’s charges.

But a general statement issued Tuesday afternoon said USC is aware of the “wide-ranging criminal investigation” and noted that the university “is reviewing its admissions processes broadly to ensure that such actions do not occur going forward.”

The daughter currently works as an associate at Armory Capital LLC, a private equity firm based in Illinois, according to her LinkedIn profile. She did not immediately respond to a LinkedIn message about the case.

Gordon Ernst, the former Georgetown tennis coach accused of helping facilitate her admission to the university, was indicted Tuesday.

Elisabeth Kimmel is an alumna of Stanford University and Harvard University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree and law degree, respectively, according to a Bloomberg executive profile.

She currently serves as a director for First Busey Corp., an Illinois company that operates Busey Bank. Her father, August C. Meyer, Jr., is a board member at the same company. He previously owned Midwest Television.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Contact Rachel Crosby at rcrosby@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3801. Follow @rachelacrosby on Twitter.

[Sbbruin 21856]

Yep.  I give a huge fuck, because this is just an example in our tolerance of the swamp. 
Fuck, people are assholes. 

We all know you were a sailor at Stanford. Or at least a seaman if some sort.

[HenryJames 66067]

 

[Cajun 11705]

56 minutes ago, cmontexas said:

FBI is all about optics. They've taken their share of Ls in the public eye recently so this a nice story we can all enjoy about them busting rich assholes.

Rather this than burning down buildings full of children

I thought that was ATF.

[TexasMan 10891]

 

[Cajun 11705]

Just now, BurntEyes said:

These are rich people.

The ATF is not allowed to have files on rich people.

I was talking about his last line in the post.

Seemed to be referencing Waco.

[ChickenSandwich 9836]

3 hours ago, Kiss said:

I was in Varsity Blues.

Buddy from Bowie was on the pink team 

[Jive Turkey 12603]

41 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

No one says we should tolerate it, but is it really necessary to apply 300 federal agents and how many dollars to pursue it?  And don't forget eight feebs to arrest the fucking tennis coach at 6 AM.

the FBI needed a win.  this was their McNeese State.  

[Dbeasy 15051]

He should win some sort of award for this tweet.

I’m an idiot. Can someone explain this

[TexasMan 10891]

2 minutes ago, Dbeasy said:

 

I’m an idiot. Can someone explain this

 

 

 

 

 

and damn, sorry I reposted it

[pops 6986]

25 minutes ago, bigup2dahorns said:

Las Vegas Review Journal:

One of the nearly 50 people named Tuesday in the national college bribery scandal was a San Diego media executive who recently relocated to Las Vegas.

Elisabeth Meyer Kimmel, 54, is accused of buying two of her children into elite schools on either side of the country: her daughter, Katharine, into Georgetown University in 2013 and her son Thomas into University of Southern California last fall.

Court records allege she paid $275,000 for the Georgetown arrangements through a family foundation and $200,000 for the USC arrangements. She faces charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.

Nothing in the records indicated that Kimmel’s children knew about her alleged actions.

Kimmel is the owner and president of Midwest Television Inc., based out of Champaign, Illinois, records show. The company previously owned KFMB-TV, a CBS-affiliated station in San Diego, as well as two San Diego radio stations. But in 2017, she sold them for $325 million to TEGNA Inc., a publicly traded broadcast company and spinoff of Gannet.

The TV station’s current news director declined to comment Tuesday. A story about the scandal on the station’s CBS 8 website noted that Kimmel “owned KFMB Stations for decades.”

Katharine and Thomas Kimmel both attended The Bishop’s School, a private, Episcopal college preparatory school in La Jolla, California, where the family previously lived.

Katharine Kimmel was a decorated field hockey player. Thomas Kimmel in 2016 traveled with his mother to Washington, D.C., where they met with San Diego’s congressional representatives and lobbied on behalf of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, according to a news post from the high school.

Late last year, Kimmel and her husband, Gregory, moved into a penthouse in Turnberry Towers Las Vegas, located just east of the Strip, records show. A call to the residence by a gate attendant Tuesday was not answered.

The family does not appear to have any immediate ties to Jimmy Kimmel, the late-night television host who was raised in Las Vegas and attended Clark High School.

An affidavit in support of a criminal complaint, unsealed Tuesday, alleges that Elisabeth Kimmel “participated in the college recruitment scheme by conspiring to use bribery to facilitate her daughter’s admission to Georgetown as a purported tennis recruit, and her son’s admission to USC as a purported track recruit,”

Her daughter graduated from Georgetown in 2017 but was never a member of the tennis team, according to the document.

Her son — who is not on the USC track team — received an email from an adviser ahead of the fall 2018 semester, asking about scheduling times for USC track practice. He assumed it was a mistake and was generally “unaware of the circumstances surrounding his admission to USC,” according to the affidavit.

Officials at USC did not respond to a request for comment as to whether the son’s enrollment status would change as a result of his mother’s charges.

But a general statement issued Tuesday afternoon said USC is aware of the “wide-ranging criminal investigation” and noted that the university “is reviewing its admissions processes broadly to ensure that such actions do not occur going forward.”

The daughter currently works as an associate at Armory Capital LLC, a private equity firm based in Illinois, according to her LinkedIn profile. She did not immediately respond to a LinkedIn message about the case.

Gordon Ernst, the former Georgetown tennis coach accused of helping facilitate her admission to the university, was indicted Tuesday.

Elisabeth Kimmel is an alumna of Stanford University and Harvard University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree and law degree, respectively, according to a Bloomberg executive profile.

She currently serves as a director for First Busey Corp., an Illinois company that operates Busey Bank. Her father, August C. Meyer, Jr., is a board member at the same company. He previously owned Midwest Television.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Contact Rachel Crosby at rcrosby@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3801. Follow @rachelacrosby on Twitter.

This is what I don't get. 325 million in the bank... You scratch a check for 10 million for the new wing of the children's hospital or whatever and the next 4 generations of your family get into USC without anyone batting an eye. But you have to go through some track bullshit that your kid doesn't even know about? 

And she went to Stanford and Harvard. She's moneyed. She's blue blood. She should know how this works.

But this isn't how it works. This isn't how any of this works. 

[SuingToGetAMessageBoard? 3861]

Gotchu fam

[Larry T. Spider 1746]

38 minutes ago, Johnny Sack said:

Why didnt Aunt Becky justt sleep with someone in admissions, no paper trail that way?

Your mom left a snail trail last night.

[Poolflood 845]

Graduated at the top of the 3rd quarter and smoked the SAT.   HS 87/ UT 91. 

We were dirt poor, but I'd kick an extra 15k for my kids if they needed it.

Ok cool.  Hook em

 

Edited March 13, 2019 by Poolflood

[Updawg 2266]

Didn't all of this start because the feds we're already listening to the medical CEO for fraud with CMS. This came up in a call about his son getting into Penn so they followed it. I think it involved the now Celtics assistant coach.

I also heard there are a lot more kids that used these services - maybe around 800

This will be interesting to see what schools do with kids currently enrolled.

[naija 2854]

20 minutes ago, pops said:

This is what I don't get. 325 million in the bank... You scratch a check for 10 million for the new wing of the children's hospital or whatever and the next 4 generations of your family get into USC without anyone batting an eye. But you have to go through some track bullshit that your kid doesn't even know about? 

And she went to Stanford and Harvard. She's moneyed. She's blue blood. She should know how this works.

But this isn't how it works. This isn't how any of this works. 

in a world in which a billionaire is getting handjobs at an Asian massage parlor.... are these questions still valid?

[The Golden Hat 299]

9 hours ago, NowThis said:

cool that UT was included in these elite places.  Notice A&M/OU are not on the list!  Hook'em!!! 

Aggy will literally accept anyone. They are the used car dealership of universities

[Smax 3800]

This is what I don't get. 325 million in the bank... You scratch a check for 10 million for the new wing of the children's hospital or whatever and the next 4 generations of your family get into USC without anyone batting an eye. But you have to go through some track bullshit that your kid doesn't even know about? 
And she went to Stanford and Harvard. She's moneyed. She's blue blood. She should know how this works.
But this isn't how it works. This isn't how any of this works. 

I'm with you, makes no sense for some of these people.


Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[Larry T. Spider 1746]

Is it still the case that you can write a check and get your kid into an elite school? I heard that it’s not like it used to be. I also don’t have 350 million, so that do I know?

[phdhorn 6224]

The entire thing began when the FBI was tipped off that this guy made all-Pac-12 pole vaulting team:

 

This has got to be the best fucking thread in a few months.  I've been giving out likes like USC has been dishing out athletic admissions to amputees.
Got damn best birthday present since my wife rented me that 80 year old one-eyed hooker a few years back!

[Pancho 44805]

 

[Mole 4333]

10 hours ago, NowThis said:

cool that UT was included in these elite places.

This is better validation than US News ranking. How many schools are worth fraud?

[retread 2951]

 

[TwiceHorn 31483]

17 minutes ago, Larry T. Spider said:

Is it still the case that you can write a check and get your kid into an elite school? I heard that it’s not like it used to be. I also don’t have 350 million, so that do I know?

According to The Atlantic and data released in Harvard's discrimination case, as much as 14% of Harvard's enrollment is "legacy admissions."  https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2019/03/college-admissions-scandal-fbi-targets-wealthy-parents/584695/

Quote

Today, legacy students account for an estimated 14 percent of Harvard’s undergraduate population, and applicants who enjoy such alumni connections are accepted at five times the rate of their nonlegacy peers (a nearly 34 percent acceptance rate, versus just under 6 percent for those lacking connections). Surely not all of those legacies’ families made huge donations to the school, but students with a family history at an elite institution are likely to come from wealthy backgrounds that confer various other advantages.

It’s unclear how Harvard’s legacy numbers stack up against those at other elite colleges—the Harvard data were publicized because of the affirmative-action lawsuit—but a separate national survey in 2018 found that nearly half of private higher-education institutions consider legacy status in acceptance decisions. While colleges err on the side of keeping mum about their practices, they tend to acknowledge that such applicants have at least a slight advantage.

 

Edited March 13, 2019 by TwiceHorn

[tokamak 6431]

1 hour ago, Lhorn said:

What does it mean “economic merit?”  Certainly not that she’s poor.  Are they saying she got in, in part because she’s rich?

also if she so academically qualified why was mom trying so desperately to have her NOT end up at ASU?

This thread just keeps delivering.

[SHOOTER12 8810]

1 hour ago, Johnny Sack said:

Why didnt Aunt Becky justt sleep with someone in admissions, no paper trail that way?

Just a snail trail...

[Macanudo 12979]

I'm still waiting on someone to explain how USC is considered elite.

[Loco 3752]

2 minutes ago, Macanudo said:

I'm still waiting on someone to explain how USC is considered elite.

Song Girls

[CleverNickname 1311]

2 minutes ago, Macanudo said:

I'm still waiting on someone to explain how USC is considered elite.

Since its almost entirely rich assholes, they get to network with other rich assholes, and since life in elite circles is pretty much who you know, it is elite. I 

[Murfdogg21 4412]

https://twitter.com/HouCounterplot/status/1105483939186135041/photo/1

 

“If you squint, you can see Aunt Becky down there at Alcatraz!”

Edited March 13, 2019 by Murfdogg21

[TexLonghorn 5667]

5 hours ago, Deej said:

It takes eight agents to arrest a tennis coach?

 

(Associated Press) Leaked photos show federal agents preparing for the early morning arrest of University of Texas Tennis Coach Michael Center:

and then the carrying out, without incident, of the accused coach's detainment:

Edited March 13, 2019 by TexLonghorn
Yes, I know that one's badminton... Just go with it...

[Harry Ellis 445]

1 hour ago, Johnny Sack said:

Why didnt Aunt Becky justt sleep with someone in admissions, no paper trail that way?

 

 

[CycleTex87 2970]

1 hour ago, Johnny Sack said:

Why didnt Aunt Becky justt sleep with someone in admissions, no paper trail that way?

Yo mama shore do care about yore education

[Trey3216 15346]

5 hours ago, msbesq said:

Elisabeth Kimmel of Las Vegas, possibly a relative of Jimmy by blood or marriage, since he grew up there. Also Gordon Caplan, the Co-chair of one of the biggest lawfirms in the country. This is fantastic schadenfreude.

Fuck Jimmy Kimmel and his relatives.  The CEO of the largest bond mutual fund company in America, who helped ouster the founder/Chairman/CEO and subsequent CEO is implicated.  Jimmy Kimmel’s possible family is puppynuts here 

[Trey3216 15346]

5 hours ago, Duke Silver said:

At least they weren’t in full SWAT gear (that we know of)

Well, he wasn’t in East Austin and armed with a dog.   

[achooloco 1072]

2 hours ago, TwiceHorn said:

For once, I'm not bitching about their jurisdiction.  I agree that only the FBI could/should handle this.  But you have 36 parental defendants, most of whom are couples, so you're looking at something like 18-20 kids that benefited from this fraud.  Out of how many college applicants/freshmen?

Maybe we should be grateful that they aren't entrapping terrorists or helping local cops make HUMAN TRAFFICKING!!!11!!! arrests.

meh, after manafort got 47 months and all the stories of years for illegal voting or just weed came out, if some rich people get fucked like us normal folk, then so be it. equal justice for all.

[Sbbruin 21856]

Just received this email

Quote

To the Campus Community: Earlier today, I was shocked and angered to learn that dozens of individuals have been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with paying or accepting bribes in exchange for admission to several top American universities, including UCLA. UCLA’s men’s soccer head coach, Jorge Salcedo, was named in the indictment and immediately placed on leave pending a review by the university. An employee of Geffen Academy was also named in the indictment, but not in connection with her duties at UCLA, and similarly placed on leave. Today’s indictment makes clear that UCLA, like the other universities, was the victim of an alleged crime. The indictment also asserts that the individuals accused of these crimes worked to conceal their actions from UCLA and the other universities. We will fully cooperate with federal authorities as this case moves forward. We will also perform a detailed internal review to ensure proper controls are in place to prevent any repeat of these actions in the future. As a public university, UCLA is absolutely committed to ensuring that every applicant is considered purely on their merits without any consideration of financial, political or other benefits to the university, in keeping with policy set by the University of California Board of Regents. UCLA cannot and will not tolerate anything less. Honesty, integrity and fairness are core values at UCLA and admission to UCLA is a notable accomplishment that cannot be bought by any individual, no matter how wealthy, prominent or powerful. Once here, our students work extraordinarily hard to fulfill the highest standards of academic and athletic excellence. We remain absolutely committed to an institution that values inclusion, diversity, merit and accomplishment, without exception. We owe that to everyone who shares our dedication to producing the world-class research, teaching and service that have brought this community so much pride. Sincerely, Gene D. Block Chancellor

 

This email was sent to jack@ass.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences  UCLA Athletics - Wooden Athletic Fund · PO Box 24044 · Los Angeles, CA 90024-0044 · USA

Got the victim card down pat.

[formermav43 4606]

2 hours ago, Lhorn said:

What does it mean “economic merit?”  Certainly not that she’s poor.  Are they saying she got in, in part because she’s rich?

also if she so academically qualified why was mom trying so desperately to have her NOT end up at ASU?

Wow

[miguelito 11266]

Bruin, your email address is at the bottom of that email you posted.  FYI.

[ButtFumble 5180]

all these kids will now have something to talk about together at the next fyre festival, cohchilla and burning man

[Updawg 2266]

Bruin, your email address is at the bottom of that email you posted.  FYI.

Shhhh. I'm subscribing him to lists.

[George 492]

UCLA education and haven't graduated from Hotmail?  Bless your heart!

[RollLeft 5045]

40 minutes ago, Macanudo said:

I'm still waiting on someone to explain how USC is considered elite.

Someone was arguing UCSD was a few months ago. 

[smuggs 9353]

9 minutes ago, miguelito said:

Bruin, your email address is at the bottom of that email you posted.  FYI.

 

Too late. He’ll be receiving his first digital issue of Naughty Cabin Boy Weekly on the 18th.

[dimyh 1874]

5 hours ago, Deej said:

It takes eight agents to arrest a tennis coach?

I wish this happened back in my day as one of the rec staff that checked IDs at the courts. Would be glorious to see this in person. 8 guys pull up for an early morning doubles match. Sweatpants on, tennis bags on shoulders, just milling around trying to look inconspicuous in the lobby. Idle chit-chat like a bad ideas jeans skit until Centers strolls in and then all hell breaks loose. Flipping over logos on their jackets that say FBI, yanking shotguns out of the bags and slamming coach on the ground. Then probably Tommy Lee Jones walks in with an egg mc muffin and explains how they tracked him down. And then I would kick everyone out because courts are reserved for students and faculty only.

[phdhorn 6224]

8 minutes ago, smuggs said:

Too late. He’ll be receiving his first digital issue of Naughty Cabin Boy Weekly on the 18th.

He's also going to be getting Cow Udders Bonanza magazine for the next year.  Lucky him.

[tantric superman 4667]

2 hours ago, Sbbruin said:

 

We all know you were a sailor at Stanford. Or at least a seaman if some sort.

Oarsman.  I was the world's shortest bowman until they found a replacement.

Some prepster from Mill Valley, as I recall.

 

 

Edited March 13, 2019 by tantric superman

[HornOnTheBayou 8930]

11 hours ago, Sbbruin said:

No shit.  I mean, I get $6 million to get into UCLA, but Texas is on that list.  

I was going to let the e-mail thing go, but after seeing this post, he's getting signed up for Cat Facts.

[Parliament 14260]

Using eight agents to arrest one tennis coach seems extreme to us, but the Feds have had plenty of near-misses. Gotta take all the precautions.

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

5 hours ago, SuingToGetAMessageBoard? said:

If the current students aren't indicted, do they get kicked out of school?  I bet at the private schools at least the answer is yes.

what if they've made the grades since admittance?