Gordon Ernst stands before a group of students, all from wealthy families. “Whoever bids the highest,” he says, “will get a spot in the University.” The bidding starts. The students call out their bidding prices, each higher than the last. Finally, the bidding stops. The winner is a boy called Thomas, from a rich family in Georgetown.
Last fall, Gordon Ernst, head tennis coach for Georgetown University, was sentenced to over 2 years of prison after pleading guilty to accepting bribes to help students from wealthy families get into the school.
Ernst has been sentenced to 30 months in prison, one of the harshest punishments issued so far by the federal investigation called Operation Varsity Blues. It focused on bribes from wealthy families taken by teachers or coaches.
According to Rachael S. Rollins, a U.S attorney, “Mr. Ernst was one of the most prolific participants in cheating the college admissions system, he put nearly $3.5 million in bribes directly into his pocket and sold close to two dozen slots at Georgetown to the highest bidder.”
Ernst was found guilty last fall, charged with conspiracy to commit federal bribery programs, and filing a false tax return, according to court documents. The coach was first arrested in March 2019, with more than 48 other coaches, testing officials and parents. Ernst was also found guilty to accepting bribes from at least 12 students as recruits for the Georgetown tennis team from between 2012 to 2018. Some of the students accepted by paying bribes didn’t even play tennis competitively.
More than 50 people have been connected to the incident and charged.
Ernst and many others offered an easier “side door” that let unqualified students enter top schools and universities in the nation. Ernst wanted money, and he got his hands on it by taking bribes from rich families. But what about the students who were accepted by relying on their own talent?
Last fall, Gordon Ernst, head tennis coach for Georgetown University, was sentenced to over 2 years of prison after pleading guilty to accepting bribes to help students from wealthy families get into the school.
Ernst has been sentenced to 30 months in prison, one of the harshest punishments issued so far by the federal investigation called Operation Varsity Blues. It focused on bribes from wealthy families taken by teachers or coaches.
According to Rachael S. Rollins, a U.S attorney, “Mr. Ernst was one of the most prolific participants in cheating the college admissions system, he put nearly $3.5 million in bribes directly into his pocket and sold close to two dozen slots at Georgetown to the highest bidder.”
Ernst was found guilty last fall, charged with conspiracy to commit federal bribery programs, and filing a false tax return, according to court documents. The coach was first arrested in March 2019, with more than 48 other coaches, testing officials and parents. Ernst was also found guilty to accepting bribes from at least 12 students as recruits for the Georgetown tennis team from between 2012 to 2018. Some of the students accepted by paying bribes didn’t even play tennis competitively.
More than 50 people have been connected to the incident and charged.
Ernst and many others offered an easier “side door” that let unqualified students enter top schools and universities in the nation. Ernst wanted money, and he got his hands on it by taking bribes from rich families. But what about the students who were accepted by relying on their own talent?
