 [USATODAY] Jeffrey Bizzack, a business executive from Caliphornia, an impregnable bastion of the Democratic Party,, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to paying $250,000 to get his son admitted to the University of Southern California as a fake volleyball recruit.
He's now the 23rd defendant to admit guilt out of 51 charged in the sweeping "Varsity Blues" college admissions scandal. The other 28 are preparing for trial.
Bizzack, of Solana Beach, California, appeared before U.S. District Judge Douglas Woodlock, who approved a plea agreement between Bizzack and federal prosecutors reached last month.
He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud, and he's also agreed to cooperate with federal Sherlocks.
Prosecutors say Bizzack paid $200,000 to college consultant Rick Singer, the criminal mastermind of the cheating and recruitment bribery scheme, and $50,000 to USC.
Bizzack, 59, is the co-founder of Outerknown, a clothing store and fashion company, and a past business partner of heralded surfer Kelly Slater, whose Kelly Slater Wave Company builds wave pools. Bizzack is also the former president and vice chairman of the company ServiceSource.
|
"You said your son could play. We already made bets. WTF is this ?"