Last Friday, Gordon Ernst, a former tennis coach at Georgetown University located in
Washington DC, was sentenced to 2 years in prison due to federal fraud, as well as
taking bribes. Gordon Ernst admitted to taking bribes in exchange for college
acceptances for wealthy students from 2012 to 2018 until his arrest in 2019.
“Mr. Ernst was a key driver of this corruption of the college admissions process, and the
court’s sentence speaks volumes about the gravity of his conduct,” said US attorney,
Rachel S. Rollins.
Gordon Ernst took bribes from around a dozen students from wealthy families. In total,
he stacked up just a little under 3.5 million dollars. On top of this, Ernst did not report
this extra source of income on his tax returns, committing tax fraud. From the families
that Ernst took bribes from, some of their children did not even play competitive tennis.
Ernst is not the only one doing this sort of business. He worked alongside Willliam
Singer, who was said to be the ringleader of the entire scheme. William Singer, who
went by the name Rick, was a private college counselor and offered families an extra
option, or “side door” as the New York Times puts it, for their students to get into
prestigious and elite colleges. William Singer’s hearing is scheduled for later on in
September.
Both of these cases are a part of the federal investigation under the name “Operation
Varsity Blues.” Operation Varsity Blues focuses on bribes given to coaches or
professors in exchange for college admission and puts a stop to it through legal action.
Quotes:
“Mr. Ernst was a key driver of this corruption of the college admissions process, and the
court’s sentence speaks volumes about the gravity of his conduct.” Rachel S. Rollins
“Mr. Ernst was one of the most prolific participants in cheating the college admissions
system.” Rachel S. Rollins
Additional Facts:
Gordon Ernst took nearly 3.5 million dollars from bribes and did not report this income
on his tax returns.
Ernst took around 12 bribes in the course of 6 years (2012-2018)
Article Used:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1656877096638x497425905382837840/ExGeorgetown%20Tennis%20Coach%20Sentenced%20in%20Admissions%20Scandal%
20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf
Washington DC, was sentenced to 2 years in prison due to federal fraud, as well as
taking bribes. Gordon Ernst admitted to taking bribes in exchange for college
acceptances for wealthy students from 2012 to 2018 until his arrest in 2019.
“Mr. Ernst was a key driver of this corruption of the college admissions process, and the
court’s sentence speaks volumes about the gravity of his conduct,” said US attorney,
Rachel S. Rollins.
Gordon Ernst took bribes from around a dozen students from wealthy families. In total,
he stacked up just a little under 3.5 million dollars. On top of this, Ernst did not report
this extra source of income on his tax returns, committing tax fraud. From the families
that Ernst took bribes from, some of their children did not even play competitive tennis.
Ernst is not the only one doing this sort of business. He worked alongside Willliam
Singer, who was said to be the ringleader of the entire scheme. William Singer, who
went by the name Rick, was a private college counselor and offered families an extra
option, or “side door” as the New York Times puts it, for their students to get into
prestigious and elite colleges. William Singer’s hearing is scheduled for later on in
September.
Both of these cases are a part of the federal investigation under the name “Operation
Varsity Blues.” Operation Varsity Blues focuses on bribes given to coaches or
professors in exchange for college admission and puts a stop to it through legal action.
Quotes:
“Mr. Ernst was a key driver of this corruption of the college admissions process, and the
court’s sentence speaks volumes about the gravity of his conduct.” Rachel S. Rollins
“Mr. Ernst was one of the most prolific participants in cheating the college admissions
system.” Rachel S. Rollins
Additional Facts:
Gordon Ernst took nearly 3.5 million dollars from bribes and did not report this income
on his tax returns.
Ernst took around 12 bribes in the course of 6 years (2012-2018)
Article Used:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1656877096638x497425905382837840/ExGeorgetown%20Tennis%20Coach%20Sentenced%20in%20Admissions%20Scandal%
20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf
