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Goldberg:
You ready for a wild story?
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00:00:05,239 --> 00:00:08,073
For most kids, if you wanted to
get into a top-tier college,
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00:00:08,109 --> 00:00:10,075
you had to be
a top-tier student...
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Until this guy figured out a way
to cheat the system.
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Man as singer:
What we do is we help the
wealthiest families in the u.S.
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00:00:18,753 --> 00:00:20,352
Get their kids into school.
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Jenks: It was the biggest fraud
in the history of education.
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We're talking $25 million.
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Did you really work
with over 700 families?
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00:00:30,097 --> 00:00:32,031
Goldberg:
What he did would explode
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00:00:32,066 --> 00:00:33,699
into one of the country's
biggest scandals.
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It was a spectacle.
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You're watching aunt becky
on a perp walk.
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That's wild!
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Goldberg:
He masterminded a scam
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that would ultimately
take down the rich and famous.
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Man as singer:
It's the homerun of homeruns.
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Man as caplan:
And it works.
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[ laughing ]
every time.
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These wealthy parents
tried to rig the college game,
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but in the end, they would be
the ones getting schooled.
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I'm whoopi goldberg,
and this is "the con."
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let's start at the beginning...
Of the end,
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00:01:05,433 --> 00:01:09,501
with a con that burst onto
the national stage.
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Tonight, breaking news,
the growing outrage --
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50 people charged
in a nationwide bribery scheme.
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Goldberg: The scandal goes
beyond the names you know --
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a desperate housewife...
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...Aunt becky.
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Woman: [ screams ]
we love you!
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It includes
captains of industry,
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big-time lawyers,
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best-selling authors,
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wall street ceos,
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even the heiress
to the hot pockets fortune --
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all now in hot water
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and on their way
to this boston courtroom.
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Mosley: If things
had worked out differently,
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this would still be happening,
and we wouldn't know.
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And this morning,
we're learning new details
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about how the fbi
uncovered it all.
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300 agents across six states,
wiretaps, a yearlong sting.
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Goldberg: This is a story
of a massive college fraud
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that dominated the news.
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But this isn't the old
"make a donation
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to your alma mater
to get your kid in" situation.
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This is an outright con.
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Mosley: There is one
powerful man who was pulling
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all the strings
behind the scenes --
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a masterful con artist.
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And that man is rick singer.
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Goldberg:
Rick knows how to play parental
anxieties like a maestro,
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as he lays out in a reality show
pitch tape he made.
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Mom and dad
go to a dinner party.
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They hear about every kid
who's doing --
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getting into this school,
going to this summer program,
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doing this, doing that.
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Sunday morning,
my phone rings off the hook.
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Goldberg: Rick would ease
parents' minds by guaranteeing
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that he could get their kids
into the school of their dreams.
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And he could back it up.
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Golden:
Rick was a terrific salesman.
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He was very good
at touting himself.
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He seemed to move very easily
in very exclusive circles.
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Celebrities and business
executives accepted him
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as one of their own.
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Singer was really
an interesting person
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to make his way
into these circles.
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The most notable thing about
rick singer
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is that he is an intensely,
intensely competitive man.
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♪
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he just had a bit of a chip
on his shoulder.
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He was driven
to prove himself --
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"I am as good as everyone els"
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korn: He was not
the most polished person.
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He usually wore a tracksuit.
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Dressing up for him was khakis
and a button-down
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and some sort
of a sweater vest often.
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He was very blunt.
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And somehow, that actually was
attractive to this community.
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He hit the scene at the perfect
time for this kind of a scheme.
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The mid-2000s were great
for rick singer.
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Applications had gone
computerized,
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so you could now, instead of
apply to 3 or 4 schools,
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kids were applying
to 10 schools.
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Colleges were getting more
and more selective.
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Parents look at the statistics
and see, "oh, my god,
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I'd like my child
to go to this school,
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but it only admits 5%
of its applicants."
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this causes a kind
of desperation among parents
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and a kind of anxiety.
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Goldberg: No one is immune
to that desperation --
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not even celebrities.
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And one of rick's biggest,
high-profile clients
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is lori loughlin --
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america's sweetheart,
beloved by millions
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for her roles
on "90210" and "full house,"
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where she actually talked about
honesty on one of her episodes.
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We may have --
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well, he may have
[chuckles] embellished --
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lied a bit
on our application.
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She's even got a super
successful husband, mossimo,
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who is a renowned
fashion designer.
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Rick has already helped
lori and mossimo
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get their older daughter
into usc.
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Now they're hoping to get
their younger daughter,
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olivia jade, in, too.
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But there's one small problem.
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Olivia -- she had
a thriving youtube channel.
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She was
a social media influencer.
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She didn't really like school.
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Goldberg:
A sentiment she has no problem
voicing on social media.
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So, I told my mom
I wanted to quit school,
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and then she was like,
"that's not happening."
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korn: College, especially
for olivia, was not her focus,
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but her parents continued
to push her and said, you know,
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"you have to go to college."
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one of the factors at play here
was ego --
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of the parents.
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These parents really
saw their children
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as a reflection of themselves
and their own success.
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So, you're at these cocktail
parties on a Saturday night.
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You wouldn't necessarily lead
the conversation with,
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"oh, my son's
a cal state long beach."
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goldberg: Olivia jade's parents
want to get her into usc,
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a school with an acceptance rate
of 16%.
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But she's not a serious student.
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So how is rick
gonna pull it off?
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So, there are different ways
to get into college.
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Goldberg:
Andrew jenks is a podcaster
fascinated with this story
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and with a system that is
so vulnerable to manipulation.
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The front door is,
you apply and you get in.
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The back door is,
parents have a lot of money,
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and they donate
millions of dollars,
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and the school feels obligated
to let the student in.
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The back door was for
the really richest of the rich.
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Rick singer discovered
"maybe there's a side door."
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the side door was for people
who were willing
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to give maybe
a few hundred thousand dollars.
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Goldberg:
Sounds like a deal to me.
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Rick pitches his side-door
scheme to lori and mossimo
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as a guaranteed way
to get olivia jade
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into the school of their --
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I mean [chuckles]
her dreams.
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Rick's side door is like
the back door, only sneakier.
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First, rick approaches
a school coach
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or athletic department
administrator
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and entices them
with boatloads of cash.
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Then he convinces
the ones who buy in
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to recruit his client's kid
in a particular sport.
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Olivia jade, for example, would
be recruited by usc as a --
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a rower?
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Which would take some work,
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because division 1 schools,
like usc,
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normally only take
elite athletes,
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and olivia jade's rowing résumé
is -- well, it's a little thin.
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Korn: Olivia was not a rower,
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but they did have an erg
in their home gym.
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Goldberg: Okay.
I guess that's a start.
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Rick would have the parents
get him a photo of their kid
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doing the sport
he chose for them --
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in this case, a shot
of olivia jade on her erg.
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Sometimes he'd even steal photos
of real athletes
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and have their faces
photoshopped on top of them.
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Yeah! Like that!
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Next, rick would create
a fake athletic profile
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to submit it to the school.
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Olivia jade's rowing profile
boasted of actual races
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that dedicated young people
worked hard to compete in.
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Just not olivia jade.
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Why don't the colleges catch on
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that these athletic profiles
are not real?
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Korn:
Usually, the admissions officers
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didn't really look
that closely at it.
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A coach would be crazy
to give up a recruiting spot
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for anyone who's not
a qualified athlete,
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goldberg:
But surprise! They do!
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Because money is...
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[ chuckling ] well, money.
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Rick then collects the fee
for his services.
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In this case,
lori and mossimo send $200,000
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to the key worldwide foundation,
rick's fake charity --
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a nice little thank-you
for helping get olivia jade
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in usc's class of 2022.
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She updates her fans
on her future
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in this now-infamous
deleted youtube video.
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My first week of school,
I'm leaving to go to fiji.
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I don't know how much of school
I'm gonna attend,
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but I do want the experience
of, like, game days, partying...
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I don't really care
about school,
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as you guys all know.
[ chuckles ]
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goldberg:
Lori and mossimo have now spent
half a million dollars
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to get olivia jade
and her older sister, bella,
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into usc.
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[ laughing ]
okay, bye, you guys.
Man: Thank you so much.
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Sure, rick's scheme is illegal,
but it's working like a charm,
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making possible his swanky digs
in newport beach.
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Jenks: Rick was able
to do this for years --
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00:09:06,413 --> 00:09:09,848
from the very least --
2011 to 2018.
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00:09:09,883 --> 00:09:12,817
Goldberg: But just when he's
at the top of his game,
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00:09:12,853 --> 00:09:15,287
rick becomes a target
of the fbi.
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00:09:15,322 --> 00:09:18,657
And before it's all over,
he'll be working for them,
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00:09:18,692 --> 00:09:22,727
helping bring his collegiate con
and everyone involved
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00:09:22,763 --> 00:09:24,362
crashing down.
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00:09:24,398 --> 00:09:26,631
You're about to hear
how it all happened,
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00:09:26,667 --> 00:09:28,967
with the help
of the fbi wiretaps
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00:09:29,002 --> 00:09:31,736
of this con artist
and his clients.
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00:09:31,772 --> 00:09:33,305
Man as singer: I can do anythig
and everything
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00:09:33,340 --> 00:09:34,940
if you guys are amenable
to doing it.
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♪
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goldberg: In 2018,
rick singer is riding high,
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00:09:44,318 --> 00:09:48,787
using his innovative --
and also illegal -- side door
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00:09:48,822 --> 00:09:51,590
to get kids into elite colleges.
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00:09:51,625 --> 00:09:55,994
And he's about to pop up
on the radar of the fbi.
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00:09:56,029 --> 00:09:58,363
It turns out
rick had been pushing his luck
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00:09:58,398 --> 00:10:01,166
for a long time.
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00:10:01,201 --> 00:10:05,503
Rick singer was --
yeah, he was intensely driven.
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00:10:05,539 --> 00:10:08,540
This seemed to start
when he was a little boy,
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00:10:08,575 --> 00:10:10,642
and he was living
outside chicago
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00:10:10,677 --> 00:10:13,845
in a fairly affluent suburb,
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00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:16,081
but he was in
a lower-middle-class household.
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00:10:16,116 --> 00:10:17,916
There was this awareness
of class.
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00:10:17,951 --> 00:10:20,652
He would tell his friends,
"I'm gonna be a millionaire.
224
00:10:20,687 --> 00:10:22,420
I'm gonna have a huge house.
225
00:10:22,456 --> 00:10:24,389
I'm gonna really
make something of myself."
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00:10:24,424 --> 00:10:26,124
he was a chubby kid,
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00:10:26,159 --> 00:10:28,526
and they called him
"fat man singer."
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00:10:28,562 --> 00:10:31,129
and he did not want to be
the chubby kid.
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00:10:31,164 --> 00:10:34,232
He set out at one point
to lose weight
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00:10:34,267 --> 00:10:38,403
and ran in the hot sun
all summer to remake himself.
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00:10:38,438 --> 00:10:41,106
And he did --
he lost a lot of weight,
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00:10:41,141 --> 00:10:43,441
but he was never satisfied.
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00:10:43,477 --> 00:10:46,878
And that kind of continued
throughout his life.
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00:10:46,913 --> 00:10:50,882
Goldberg:
After rick graduated college,
he became a basketball coach
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00:10:50,917 --> 00:10:52,884
and learned
some critical information
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00:10:52,919 --> 00:10:55,620
about college athletics
and admissions.
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00:10:55,656 --> 00:10:57,722
During his coaching years,
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00:10:57,758 --> 00:11:00,992
what he learned was that
if you're an athlete,
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00:11:01,028 --> 00:11:04,562
you have a tremendous advantage
in getting into college.
240
00:11:04,598 --> 00:11:05,930
You have a preferred status.
241
00:11:05,966 --> 00:11:10,702
And then you had coaches who
felt they weren't paid enough
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00:11:10,737 --> 00:11:12,103
and were tired of raising money,
243
00:11:12,139 --> 00:11:13,972
and they didn't have
a lot of oversight.
244
00:11:14,007 --> 00:11:21,446
Goldberg:
So rick left coaching behind
and became a...Consultant.
245
00:11:21,481 --> 00:11:24,382
Amott:
In 1993, I was a volunteer
246
00:11:24,418 --> 00:11:27,018
at a local public high school
counseling office,
247
00:11:27,054 --> 00:11:29,654
and we were putting on a college
night at the high school.
248
00:11:29,690 --> 00:11:31,823
And rick singer
asked to be a speaker.
249
00:11:31,858 --> 00:11:35,293
He was the first educational
consultant in sacramento,
250
00:11:35,328 --> 00:11:39,564
so he provided a service
that no one had ever heard of.
251
00:11:39,599 --> 00:11:42,567
Goldberg:
Rick was what you would call
an educational consultant.
252
00:11:42,602 --> 00:11:45,804
That's like a guidance counselor
at a high school,
253
00:11:45,839 --> 00:11:48,640
minus the high school part.
254
00:11:48,675 --> 00:11:50,642
And rick knew
how to pitch himself,
255
00:11:50,677 --> 00:11:52,043
like in this promotional video
he made.
256
00:11:52,079 --> 00:11:55,547
Getting into the right college
will set the trajectory
257
00:11:55,582 --> 00:11:57,148
for the rest of
your son or daughter's life.
258
00:11:57,184 --> 00:11:59,250
Don't leave it to chance.
259
00:11:59,286 --> 00:12:01,252
Goldberg:
Rick's business was growing,
260
00:12:01,288 --> 00:12:04,622
but margie was starting to hear
lots of rumor,
261
00:12:04,658 --> 00:12:07,058
so she decided to do
a little digging.
262
00:12:07,094 --> 00:12:08,660
Amott:
One day, I went on his website,
263
00:12:08,695 --> 00:12:12,764
and he had
this college advisory committee.
264
00:12:12,799 --> 00:12:15,200
There, he had listed
some very prominent presidents
265
00:12:15,235 --> 00:12:18,803
and chancellors and deans
of different universities.
266
00:12:18,839 --> 00:12:23,975
And I was outraged because
I knew this couldn't be true.
267
00:12:24,010 --> 00:12:25,610
Reider:
Margie called me at work.
268
00:12:25,645 --> 00:12:28,079
She told me all this,
and I was horrified.
269
00:12:28,115 --> 00:12:29,647
Working in
the admissions office,
270
00:12:29,683 --> 00:12:32,183
I knew nobody
had connections to us.
271
00:12:32,219 --> 00:12:34,018
He was talking
off the top of his head
272
00:12:34,054 --> 00:12:35,787
and bragging
about these connections
273
00:12:35,822 --> 00:12:37,889
who were substantial people.
274
00:12:37,924 --> 00:12:40,058
It was very obvious to me
275
00:12:40,093 --> 00:12:42,160
that this guy was
all hat and no cattle.
276
00:12:42,195 --> 00:12:44,929
Amott: You have to realize
that rick did not belong
277
00:12:44,965 --> 00:12:46,297
to any associations.
278
00:12:46,333 --> 00:12:47,999
What he was doing
was not illegal.
279
00:12:48,034 --> 00:12:52,203
It may have been grossly
unethical. It was not illegal.
280
00:12:52,239 --> 00:12:53,605
There was nowhere
to turn him in.
281
00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:58,076
Goldberg: And now rick was ready
to take his "grossly unethical,
282
00:12:58,111 --> 00:13:00,578
but maybe technically
not illegal" business
283
00:13:00,614 --> 00:13:02,280
to the next level.
284
00:13:02,315 --> 00:13:03,915
Korn: Rick singer
was gaining a reputation
285
00:13:03,950 --> 00:13:05,350
in the sacramento area,
286
00:13:05,385 --> 00:13:07,786
but if he wanted
to really up his game,
287
00:13:07,821 --> 00:13:09,687
southern california
was the place to be.
288
00:13:09,723 --> 00:13:12,490
So he moved down to l.A.
289
00:13:12,526 --> 00:13:16,761
Goldberg:
In l.A., rick started snagging
bigger and bigger clients.
290
00:13:16,797 --> 00:13:18,696
He was perfecting his game,
291
00:13:18,732 --> 00:13:21,299
though not everyone
chose to play.
292
00:13:21,334 --> 00:13:24,903
Carroll:
The first time rick singer
came over to my house,
293
00:13:24,938 --> 00:13:27,272
he was dressed
in this combination
294
00:13:27,307 --> 00:13:31,376
of business casual
and athleisure wear.
295
00:13:31,411 --> 00:13:34,345
Big personality,
used car salesman --
296
00:13:34,381 --> 00:13:35,446
"I've got all the connections.
297
00:13:35,482 --> 00:13:37,882
I'm gonna hook you up.
I'm gonna e-mail --
298
00:13:37,918 --> 00:13:40,618
hold on. I got to take
this call. I'm very important.
299
00:13:40,654 --> 00:13:42,420
My time is very important,
and I'm giving it to you.
300
00:13:42,455 --> 00:13:43,655
And you're very special, too,
301
00:13:43,690 --> 00:13:46,291
and you should give me
a lot of money to do this."
302
00:13:46,326 --> 00:13:50,361
but I do think
that his charm was real.
303
00:13:50,397 --> 00:13:51,830
Goldberg: Mackin says
rick encouraged him
304
00:13:51,865 --> 00:13:55,433
to fabricate a story
on a college essay.
305
00:13:55,468 --> 00:13:57,035
Carroll:
I would say to myself,
306
00:13:57,070 --> 00:13:59,003
"oh, maybe that's just
part of being an adult,
307
00:13:59,039 --> 00:14:01,272
is you have to make
little compromises like this."
308
00:14:01,308 --> 00:14:04,475
I could see myself
being talked into...
309
00:14:04,511 --> 00:14:05,877
Lying.
310
00:14:05,912 --> 00:14:10,849
Goldberg: Mackin says that he
ultimately decided not to lie.
311
00:14:10,884 --> 00:14:13,451
But setbacks like these
did not bother rick.
312
00:14:13,486 --> 00:14:15,320
He had plenty of takers.
313
00:14:15,355 --> 00:14:17,589
If they had the cash,
rick had the key
314
00:14:17,624 --> 00:14:20,525
to getting their kids into
the best schools in the country.
315
00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:25,430
Jenks: He saw a system in place
he could cheat
316
00:14:25,465 --> 00:14:29,934
and had the gall to just do it.
317
00:14:29,970 --> 00:14:32,437
I mean, it was
this extraordinary scheme
318
00:14:32,472 --> 00:14:34,439
that he had going
319
00:14:34,474 --> 00:14:36,708
that probably would still be
going on to this day
320
00:14:36,743 --> 00:14:38,509
if it weren't for some other guy
321
00:14:38,545 --> 00:14:42,113
getting caught
in a fluke accident.
322
00:14:42,148 --> 00:14:46,551
Goldberg: In 2018, just as
rick's business is booming,
323
00:14:46,586 --> 00:14:49,187
a guy he's never heard of
gets picked up
324
00:14:49,222 --> 00:14:52,156
for a massive
global securities fraud,
325
00:14:52,192 --> 00:14:54,926
and in order to try
and save his skin,
326
00:14:54,961 --> 00:14:57,395
he tips the feds off
to another fraud
327
00:14:57,430 --> 00:15:01,266
happening right here
in the hallowed halls of yale.
328
00:15:01,301 --> 00:15:02,934
Jenks: What ends up
coming out of his mouth
329
00:15:02,969 --> 00:15:06,671
is that he was paying
hundreds of thousands of dollars
330
00:15:06,706 --> 00:15:11,142
to the yale soccer coach
to get his daughter into yale.
331
00:15:11,177 --> 00:15:14,913
That coach then says,
"oh, what I'm doing is nothing.
332
00:15:14,948 --> 00:15:16,314
There's this other guy
who's doing this
333
00:15:16,349 --> 00:15:17,849
all over the country."
334
00:15:17,884 --> 00:15:20,418
korn:
At that point, the prosecutors
didn't know who singer was.
335
00:15:20,453 --> 00:15:22,921
They had never really heard
that name before at all.
336
00:15:22,956 --> 00:15:24,555
So they thought, "oh, boy.
337
00:15:24,591 --> 00:15:27,425
We need to learn
a little bit more."
338
00:15:27,460 --> 00:15:29,360
levitz:
Using this information, they get
permission from the court
339
00:15:29,396 --> 00:15:30,161
to tap rick singer's phone.
340
00:15:30,196 --> 00:15:31,696
Goldberg:
Hoping to gather evidence,
341
00:15:31,731 --> 00:15:36,067
the fbi starts secretly
listening in on rick's calls,
342
00:15:36,102 --> 00:15:38,336
having no idea just how huge
343
00:15:38,371 --> 00:15:41,773
his college counseling con game
really is.
344
00:15:41,808 --> 00:15:44,108
Jenks: They wiretapped
a lot of the conversations
345
00:15:44,144 --> 00:15:46,544
that rick singer had
with the different parents.
346
00:15:46,579 --> 00:15:48,313
Goldberg:
Many of these calls
347
00:15:48,348 --> 00:15:50,581
would eventually be entered
into evidence.
348
00:15:50,617 --> 00:15:52,951
You're about to hear
re-creations
349
00:15:52,986 --> 00:15:54,719
from the "gangster capitalism"
podcast
350
00:15:54,754 --> 00:15:58,823
of the official transcript
from the fbi wiretaps.
351
00:15:58,858 --> 00:16:01,292
Man as caplan: Look,
I'm particularly interested
in working with you guys
352
00:16:01,328 --> 00:16:02,927
in figuring out
what's best for my daughter.
353
00:16:02,963 --> 00:16:04,329
Man as singer:
It's the homerun of homeruns.
354
00:16:04,364 --> 00:16:05,630
And it works.
355
00:16:05,665 --> 00:16:06,998
[ laughing ]
every time.
356
00:16:07,033 --> 00:16:11,102
But that's not even
rick's biggest boast.
357
00:16:11,137 --> 00:16:15,940
So, I did 761 what I would call
side doors.
358
00:16:15,976 --> 00:16:17,842
Oops.
359
00:16:17,877 --> 00:16:20,378
With the fbi listening
to his every word,
360
00:16:20,413 --> 00:16:24,115
rick says that he's done
his super illegal side doors
361
00:16:24,150 --> 00:16:26,584
for over 700 students.
362
00:16:26,619 --> 00:16:29,687
And to the feds' delight,
in call after call,
363
00:16:29,723 --> 00:16:33,424
he lays out the entire scheme
on a silver platter.
364
00:16:33,460 --> 00:16:35,693
It's $75,000
to get any test scores
365
00:16:35,729 --> 00:16:38,363
you would like to get
on the sat or the act.
366
00:16:38,398 --> 00:16:39,764
No one has ever gotten
in trouble with this?
367
00:16:39,799 --> 00:16:43,001
I've never had an issue
with anybody.
368
00:16:43,036 --> 00:16:45,236
So, how do I get this done
with you?
369
00:16:45,271 --> 00:16:46,537
What do I need to do?
370
00:16:46,573 --> 00:16:49,040
♪
371
00:16:53,713 --> 00:16:55,580
man as singer: Okay,
so, who we are, what we do
372
00:16:55,615 --> 00:16:59,484
is we help the wealthiest
families in the u.S.
373
00:16:59,519 --> 00:17:02,186
Get their kids
into school.
374
00:17:02,222 --> 00:17:05,323
Goldberg: The wealthy parent
rick is pitching to
375
00:17:05,358 --> 00:17:07,425
is gordon caplan,
a prominent new york attorney
376
00:17:07,460 --> 00:17:11,596
and potential new client
for his college admission scam.
377
00:17:11,631 --> 00:17:14,465
Rick's offering to get caplan's
daughter into a top college
378
00:17:14,501 --> 00:17:19,804
for the bargain price
of 75 grand.
379
00:17:19,839 --> 00:17:23,808
Levitz:
Gordon caplan was the co-chair
of a global law firm.
380
00:17:23,843 --> 00:17:27,812
He was very well known.
He'd been dealmaker of the year.
381
00:17:27,847 --> 00:17:30,848
He lived in greenwich,
connecticut, with his family.
382
00:17:30,884 --> 00:17:33,851
Caplan's daughter was
a good tennis player.
383
00:17:33,887 --> 00:17:38,756
Goldberg:
But in caplan's mind, her test
scores aren't going to cut it.
384
00:17:38,792 --> 00:17:42,226
He wants his daughter
to get a better act score.
385
00:17:42,262 --> 00:17:47,231
Goldberg: So rick pitches caplan
something he calls side door #2.
386
00:17:47,267 --> 00:17:50,401
That's right --
rick's got two side doors --
387
00:17:50,437 --> 00:17:53,871
side door #1,
where he sneaks fake athletes,
388
00:17:53,907 --> 00:17:56,207
like olivia jade, into school,
389
00:17:56,242 --> 00:17:58,242
and side door #2,
390
00:17:58,278 --> 00:18:03,614
where he rigs students' scores
on the sat or act tests.
391
00:18:03,650 --> 00:18:05,983
Let's let rick explain how.
392
00:18:06,019 --> 00:18:07,051
We need to get
your daughter tested
393
00:18:07,087 --> 00:18:08,453
for a learning difference.
394
00:18:08,488 --> 00:18:10,421
Here's why.
395
00:18:10,457 --> 00:18:11,823
If she gets tested for a
learning difference,
396
00:18:11,858 --> 00:18:13,324
and let's say it's my person
that does it,
397
00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:17,061
I need that person
to get her 100% extended time
398
00:18:17,097 --> 00:18:18,262
over multiple days.
399
00:18:18,298 --> 00:18:21,432
If they got enough extra time,
they could then take the test
400
00:18:21,468 --> 00:18:23,301
somewhere else
besides their school
401
00:18:23,336 --> 00:18:25,536
or their home testing center.
402
00:18:25,572 --> 00:18:26,871
And I also need to tell
your daughter,
403
00:18:26,906 --> 00:18:29,607
when she gets tested,
to be as...
404
00:18:29,642 --> 00:18:31,976
To be stupid, not to be
as smart as she is.
405
00:18:32,011 --> 00:18:33,444
The goal is to be slow.
406
00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,080
Man as caplan: To be honest,
it feels a little weird.
407
00:18:36,116 --> 00:18:37,615
I know it does.
I know it does.
408
00:18:37,650 --> 00:18:41,385
The fact that he's casually
trying to convince this man
409
00:18:41,421 --> 00:18:43,387
to tell his daughter
410
00:18:43,423 --> 00:18:46,190
to pretend that she has
a learning disability
411
00:18:46,226 --> 00:18:49,994
or a mental disability,
it's kind of gross.
412
00:18:50,029 --> 00:18:55,700
Goldberg:
Caplan has reservations,
so rick offers up more details.
413
00:18:55,735 --> 00:18:56,868
He tells caplan
414
00:18:56,903 --> 00:19:00,004
that once a student
gets extended testing time,
415
00:19:00,039 --> 00:19:05,009
they go to a special testing
site, which rick controls.
416
00:19:05,044 --> 00:19:06,444
That's because
rick has bribed the guy
417
00:19:06,479 --> 00:19:09,147
who runs the testing site --
a man named igor dvorskiy.
418
00:19:09,182 --> 00:19:12,517
Thanks to rick's generosity,
419
00:19:12,552 --> 00:19:15,286
his clients' kids,
like kaplan's daughter,
420
00:19:15,321 --> 00:19:18,789
get to take the test
in a private room.
421
00:19:18,825 --> 00:19:20,992
She will think when
she's done with the test
422
00:19:21,027 --> 00:19:22,293
that she has
taken the test.
423
00:19:22,328 --> 00:19:24,228
No doubt about it.
424
00:19:24,264 --> 00:19:26,430
She will walk out
the door.
425
00:19:26,466 --> 00:19:28,866
At the end of it,
she'll say to you
426
00:19:28,902 --> 00:19:30,735
"it was so hard"
or "I'm so tired"
427
00:19:30,770 --> 00:19:37,108
or whatever the typical
reaction out of the kids.
428
00:19:37,143 --> 00:19:39,911
And that's when rick's
ace test taker,
429
00:19:39,946 --> 00:19:44,182
harvard grad mark riddell,
enters the picture.
430
00:19:44,217 --> 00:19:47,351
Mark will then look
at all of her answers,
431
00:19:47,387 --> 00:19:51,189
because her answers will be put
on a separate sheet of paper,
432
00:19:51,224 --> 00:19:53,024
and then mark
will go through the answers
433
00:19:53,059 --> 00:19:57,929
and then ensure whatever score
we decide that we want to get.
434
00:19:57,964 --> 00:20:00,198
Unbelievable
that he can do it.
435
00:20:00,233 --> 00:20:05,670
Riddell's illegal side hustle
is earning him big bucks.
436
00:20:05,705 --> 00:20:09,140
Veritas, his alma mater
harvard's latin motto --
437
00:20:09,175 --> 00:20:10,541
"truth."
438
00:20:10,577 --> 00:20:12,977
to be honest, I'm not worried
about the moral issue here.
439
00:20:13,012 --> 00:20:16,647
I'm worried about the --
if she's caught doing that,
440
00:20:16,683 --> 00:20:17,748
you know,
she's finished.
441
00:20:17,784 --> 00:20:20,251
It's never happened before
in 20 some odd years.
442
00:20:20,286 --> 00:20:22,887
Jenks: To think that he went
out of his way to say,
443
00:20:22,922 --> 00:20:24,689
"I don't care about the mor--"
444
00:20:24,724 --> 00:20:26,290
like, that's, like,
you're committing a crime,
445
00:20:26,326 --> 00:20:29,260
and as you're committing it,
you kind of look back and say,
446
00:20:29,295 --> 00:20:30,027
like, "just so you know,
I'm cool doing this."
447
00:20:30,063 --> 00:20:31,862
it's the homerun
of homeruns.
448
00:20:31,898 --> 00:20:33,097
And it works.
449
00:20:33,132 --> 00:20:35,166
[ laughing ]
every time.
450
00:20:35,201 --> 00:20:38,569
The daughter didn't know
what her dad was doing.
451
00:20:38,605 --> 00:20:40,938
She was in the dark
about the testing scheme.
452
00:20:40,974 --> 00:20:43,341
It was so funny, 'cause
the kids will call me and say,
453
00:20:43,376 --> 00:20:46,477
"maybe I should do that again.
I did pretty well.
454
00:20:46,512 --> 00:20:48,512
And if I took it again,
I'd do even better."
455
00:20:48,548 --> 00:20:50,281
they just have no idea
that they didn't
456
00:20:50,316 --> 00:20:51,449
even get the score
that they thought they got.
457
00:20:51,484 --> 00:20:53,117
Right.
458
00:20:53,152 --> 00:20:56,787
Goldberg: Even with his daughter
in the dark about his plans,
459
00:20:56,823 --> 00:20:59,423
caplan is reluctant
to move forward.
460
00:20:59,459 --> 00:21:02,693
And as smooth as rick is,
caplan won't commit --
461
00:21:02,729 --> 00:21:05,196
yet.
462
00:21:05,231 --> 00:21:07,531
Meanwhile, the fbi continues
collecting evidence
463
00:21:07,567 --> 00:21:12,036
for their sting -- code-named
operation varsity blues.
464
00:21:12,071 --> 00:21:15,506
And you might just recognize
465
00:21:15,541 --> 00:21:17,508
who they pick up
on the wiretap next.
466
00:21:17,543 --> 00:21:19,944
Woman as huffman: Hey.
Thank you so much for calling.
467
00:21:19,979 --> 00:21:21,612
♪
468
00:21:29,622 --> 00:21:31,489
goldberg:
College consultant rick singer
469
00:21:31,524 --> 00:21:33,424
is under surveillance
by the fbi,
470
00:21:33,459 --> 00:21:38,296
and their wiretaps lead them
right to wisteria lane,
471
00:21:38,331 --> 00:21:40,798
where a former
desperate housewife
472
00:21:40,833 --> 00:21:42,366
faces a parenting dilemma.
473
00:21:42,402 --> 00:21:45,369
How far should she go
474
00:21:45,405 --> 00:21:46,470
to help her daughter
get a better score on the sat?
475
00:21:46,506 --> 00:21:47,772
[ cellphone rings ]
476
00:21:47,807 --> 00:21:48,639
so, felicity huffman
477
00:21:48,675 --> 00:21:51,242
takes a call
478
00:21:51,277 --> 00:21:52,410
from a man she knows can help.
479
00:21:52,445 --> 00:21:54,078
Woman as huffman: Hey.
Thank you so much for calling.
480
00:21:54,113 --> 00:21:57,048
My husband gave me the update
that she'll take the test
481
00:21:57,083 --> 00:21:58,082
March --
man as singer: 9th.
482
00:21:58,117 --> 00:21:59,817
...9th at her high school,
483
00:21:59,852 --> 00:22:01,852
and then we'll plan it again
for may.
May.
484
00:22:01,888 --> 00:22:03,788
'cause she said
she wanted to take it
485
00:22:03,823 --> 00:22:04,889
a couple of times anyway.
Yep.
486
00:22:04,924 --> 00:22:09,126
Felicity huffman, obviously
very well-known actress.
487
00:22:09,162 --> 00:22:11,996
She was
on "desperate housewives."
488
00:22:12,031 --> 00:22:13,964
her husband is william macy.
489
00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:17,735
Goldberg: With three emmys
and 18 nominations between them,
490
00:22:17,770 --> 00:22:20,204
felicity and her husband,
william,
491
00:22:20,239 --> 00:22:22,907
are the quintessential
hollywood power couple.
492
00:22:22,942 --> 00:22:24,875
They're just
a very successful couple.
493
00:22:24,911 --> 00:22:26,844
They live in a beautiful home.
494
00:22:26,879 --> 00:22:28,646
They have two daughters.
495
00:22:28,681 --> 00:22:30,548
Korn: Felicity huffman actually
had a mom blog for a while
496
00:22:30,583 --> 00:22:33,818
where she talked about how she
was a fairly insecure parent.
497
00:22:33,853 --> 00:22:36,487
Her blog had merch
that you could buy --
498
00:22:36,522 --> 00:22:38,222
you know, "good enough mom."
499
00:22:38,257 --> 00:22:39,724
you know, there was
this kind of snarkiness,
500
00:22:39,759 --> 00:22:43,427
but also a celebration
of being good enough.
501
00:22:43,463 --> 00:22:46,597
[ crowd "aww"s ]
502
00:22:46,632 --> 00:22:47,898
goldberg:
Felicity had already used rick
503
00:22:47,934 --> 00:22:51,001
to boost
her older daughter's sat scores
504
00:22:51,037 --> 00:22:52,002
without her knowing.
505
00:22:52,038 --> 00:22:54,638
And when the fbi started
listening in,
506
00:22:54,674 --> 00:22:57,308
she was considering
a second helping of his scam.
507
00:22:57,343 --> 00:22:58,476
They were considering
508
00:22:58,511 --> 00:23:01,312
doing the same testing scheme
for the younger daughter.
509
00:23:01,347 --> 00:23:03,948
After all, if you give one kid
an advantage,
510
00:23:03,983 --> 00:23:05,383
how can you not do that
for their sibling, right?
511
00:23:05,418 --> 00:23:08,386
Based on the schools
she thinks she wants to go to,
512
00:23:08,421 --> 00:23:10,354
we're gonna have to get her
a 1400-plus.
513
00:23:10,390 --> 00:23:11,489
Yes.
514
00:23:11,524 --> 00:23:14,892
And, you know, the tutor
gave her a practice test,
515
00:23:14,927 --> 00:23:16,527
and, as I said to you,
you know,
516
00:23:16,562 --> 00:23:17,661
she came in
at around 1200,
517
00:23:17,697 --> 00:23:19,897
and she said, you know,
"we can bring that up."
518
00:23:19,932 --> 00:23:21,365
we can go 14.
519
00:23:21,401 --> 00:23:22,500
Yeah, we can
bring that up.
520
00:23:22,535 --> 00:23:26,904
He's appealing to these parents'
love for their children,
521
00:23:26,939 --> 00:23:28,305
their desire to give them
anything that they want,
522
00:23:28,341 --> 00:23:32,977
and the fact that they have
the resources to do it.
523
00:23:33,012 --> 00:23:35,880
Goldberg:
Felicity still can't decide --
524
00:23:35,915 --> 00:23:38,649
should she chance it
and let her younger daughter
525
00:23:38,684 --> 00:23:41,152
try to get into a college
with her own sat scores
526
00:23:41,187 --> 00:23:45,256
or pay singer again
to juice the results?
527
00:23:45,291 --> 00:23:47,691
From the time they had
a wire up on singer,
528
00:23:47,727 --> 00:23:50,428
the prosecutors and the fbi
529
00:23:50,463 --> 00:23:52,963
were just getting
all of this material.
530
00:23:52,999 --> 00:23:54,465
You're getting these names.
531
00:23:54,500 --> 00:23:55,933
It was an absolute
gold mine for them.
532
00:23:55,968 --> 00:23:59,370
Goldberg:
But the feds still don't know
all the players involved,
533
00:23:59,405 --> 00:24:02,840
so they stick with the wiretaps,
and the clients keep coming.
534
00:24:02,875 --> 00:24:04,909
Up next -- jane buckingham,
535
00:24:04,944 --> 00:24:09,480
who just happens to be
one of felicity's mom friends.
536
00:24:09,515 --> 00:24:12,383
Jane buckingham is
a youth-marketing expert
537
00:24:12,418 --> 00:24:17,488
who's written several books,
including a book on parenting.
538
00:24:17,523 --> 00:24:20,825
If you had to kind of name
the irony of different parents
539
00:24:20,860 --> 00:24:24,195
being involved in this,
I mean, she certainly would be
540
00:24:24,230 --> 00:24:26,230
one of the people
at the top of the list.
541
00:24:26,265 --> 00:24:28,265
Goldberg: And that irony
is on full display
542
00:24:28,301 --> 00:24:30,134
in this tv show she did.
543
00:24:30,169 --> 00:24:32,036
When your friends tell you
to lie on your résumé,
544
00:24:32,071 --> 00:24:35,372
you 100% do not do it.
545
00:24:35,408 --> 00:24:37,975
But lie about your act scores?
546
00:24:38,010 --> 00:24:40,344
Guess that might be
a gray area.
547
00:24:40,379 --> 00:24:43,747
So rick arranges
for jane's 17-year-old son
548
00:24:43,783 --> 00:24:47,818
to travel to houston to one
of rick's rigged test sites.
549
00:24:47,854 --> 00:24:49,954
But there's a minor
scheduling complication.
550
00:24:49,989 --> 00:24:52,423
Woman as buckingham:
It just depends on whether
he gets the surgery or not.
551
00:24:52,458 --> 00:24:53,958
Man as singer:
I know. I know.
552
00:24:53,993 --> 00:24:56,026
He can't fly for two weeks
after that.
553
00:24:56,062 --> 00:24:58,195
Jane's son gets tonsillitis,
554
00:24:58,231 --> 00:25:00,764
and he's not
really supposed to travel,
555
00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:02,666
and they would have to
get on a flight
556
00:25:02,702 --> 00:25:05,035
in order for him to cheat.
557
00:25:05,071 --> 00:25:07,171
So jane asks rick something
558
00:25:07,206 --> 00:25:09,573
that we don't think
he's ever heard before.
559
00:25:09,609 --> 00:25:11,041
So, my question is --
560
00:25:11,077 --> 00:25:13,244
there's no way for him
to not go
561
00:25:13,279 --> 00:25:14,512
and it still to be done,
I assume?
562
00:25:14,547 --> 00:25:20,985
It's incredible to listen
to jane buckingham ask rick,
563
00:25:21,020 --> 00:25:22,286
"does my kid
even have to show up at all?"
564
00:25:22,321 --> 00:25:24,955
can you give me a test
for him to take at home
565
00:25:24,991 --> 00:25:27,658
that we proctor him --
that I proctor him?
566
00:25:27,693 --> 00:25:28,959
We could do
something like that.
567
00:25:28,995 --> 00:25:34,965
"can't we just give him a fake
exam over the weekend at home,
568
00:25:35,001 --> 00:25:37,768
and you'll have your guy
take the test?"
569
00:25:37,803 --> 00:25:39,436
if you think
it's doable...
570
00:25:39,472 --> 00:25:41,338
Yeah.
571
00:25:41,374 --> 00:25:44,041
Of course, rick,
being the con man that he is,
572
00:25:44,076 --> 00:25:45,910
says, "yeah, you know what?
Why not?"
573
00:25:45,945 --> 00:25:50,314
goldberg: Rick's test ninja,
mark riddell, flies to houston,
574
00:25:50,349 --> 00:25:55,352
but not before jane gives him a
sample of her son's handwriting.
575
00:25:55,388 --> 00:25:59,890
Mark then takes the exam,
forging the kid's signature
576
00:25:59,926 --> 00:26:04,461
and copying his handwriting
on the essay section.
577
00:26:04,497 --> 00:26:06,697
All the while,
jane's son is completely unaware
578
00:26:06,732 --> 00:26:08,499
of what's going on.
579
00:26:08,534 --> 00:26:10,668
As soon as the test booklet's
turned in,
580
00:26:10,703 --> 00:26:12,703
it's time to talk payment.
581
00:26:12,738 --> 00:26:14,705
So, your donation
is gonna be 50.
582
00:26:14,740 --> 00:26:18,375
Will you send me where and how
I should send the check?
583
00:26:18,411 --> 00:26:19,543
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
584
00:26:19,579 --> 00:26:22,580
We'll send it so that
you get your irs tax write-off.
585
00:26:22,615 --> 00:26:24,648
Oh! Even better.
586
00:26:24,684 --> 00:26:28,819
It appears tax deductions
could also be a bonus offering
587
00:26:28,854 --> 00:26:30,888
for rick singer's clients.
588
00:26:30,923 --> 00:26:33,190
So, how exactly did that work?
589
00:26:33,225 --> 00:26:34,625
♪
590
00:26:34,660 --> 00:26:37,294
hackney: Rick would have
the parents pay his foundation,
591
00:26:37,330 --> 00:26:42,299
and he would say, "look,
you pay me the $75,000,
592
00:26:42,335 --> 00:26:43,467
pay me the $50,000,
593
00:26:43,502 --> 00:26:46,770
and I'm gonna write you
a letter saying that this went
594
00:26:46,806 --> 00:26:49,239
to a 501(c)(3)
charitable organization,
595
00:26:49,275 --> 00:26:51,041
and you can deduct that."
596
00:26:51,077 --> 00:26:54,812
$25 million moved
through this system.
597
00:26:54,847 --> 00:26:57,381
From a federal income tax
perspective,
598
00:26:57,416 --> 00:27:00,050
that's saving the parents
43% in tax
599
00:27:00,086 --> 00:27:03,153
from money that they've used for
their own personal goods, right?
600
00:27:03,189 --> 00:27:05,089
So 40% of $25 million, right?
601
00:27:05,124 --> 00:27:07,725
That's $10 million.
602
00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:09,960
[ chuckles ] so we're talking
about $10 million.
603
00:27:09,996 --> 00:27:11,962
What happens
when they don't pay that money?
604
00:27:11,998 --> 00:27:13,631
You and I do.
605
00:27:13,666 --> 00:27:15,332
You're putting it
on the back of the poor.
606
00:27:15,368 --> 00:27:17,001
You're putting it on the back
of the middle class.
607
00:27:17,036 --> 00:27:20,070
That's what's happening here.
608
00:27:20,106 --> 00:27:23,440
So often, the rich believe --
genuinely believe --
609
00:27:23,476 --> 00:27:26,443
that they're just living
on a different playing field,
610
00:27:26,479 --> 00:27:29,046
and if they want to bribe
their way into school
611
00:27:29,081 --> 00:27:31,649
and get a write-off for it
at the same time,
612
00:27:31,684 --> 00:27:33,117
that's what they'll do.
613
00:27:33,152 --> 00:27:37,321
Goldberg: Finally, after months
of gathering evidence,
614
00:27:37,356 --> 00:27:41,058
the feds have enough
to make a move.
615
00:27:41,093 --> 00:27:44,028
And so when rick takes
his next business trip,
616
00:27:44,063 --> 00:27:45,529
they go for it.
617
00:27:45,564 --> 00:27:48,098
Levitz: He gets to the hotel,
618
00:27:48,134 --> 00:27:51,301
and he is greeted
by about four federal agents.
619
00:27:51,337 --> 00:27:54,972
♪
620
00:27:55,007 --> 00:27:56,440
korn:
They confront him and say,
621
00:27:56,475 --> 00:27:59,209
"we know everything
you've been doing."
622
00:27:59,245 --> 00:28:01,578
he got the opportunity
to call his lawyer,
623
00:28:01,614 --> 00:28:05,282
and then they started having
discussions with the prosecutors
624
00:28:05,317 --> 00:28:06,784
about possible
cooperation agreements.
625
00:28:06,819 --> 00:28:11,221
Goldberg:
If rick signs a cooperation
agreement with the fbi,
626
00:28:11,257 --> 00:28:13,090
he'll have to spill the beans
about all the people
627
00:28:13,125 --> 00:28:17,161
who have participated
in his college admissions scam.
628
00:28:17,196 --> 00:28:19,363
Singer would have to sing.
629
00:28:19,398 --> 00:28:23,534
The fbi couldn't have
gotten luckier in finding rick
630
00:28:23,569 --> 00:28:25,602
because as a con artist,
631
00:28:25,638 --> 00:28:29,039
your number-one priority
is saving yourself.
632
00:28:29,075 --> 00:28:31,875
Goldberg: So, in a flash,
rick singer goes from con artist
633
00:28:31,911 --> 00:28:33,677
to confidential informant.
634
00:28:33,713 --> 00:28:35,779
I think he decided that,
635
00:28:35,815 --> 00:28:37,481
if he was gonna be
a government witness,
636
00:28:37,516 --> 00:28:38,515
he was gonna be
the best one ever.
637
00:28:38,551 --> 00:28:42,119
♪
638
00:28:47,026 --> 00:28:50,227
goldberg:
So, in September of 2018,
639
00:28:50,262 --> 00:28:56,066
college consultant rick singer
is busted for his elaborate con.
640
00:28:56,102 --> 00:28:58,635
Now he's agreed
to flip on his clients
641
00:28:58,671 --> 00:29:01,271
and become
a government informant.
642
00:29:01,307 --> 00:29:03,340
Levitz: Initially,
he's a reluctant witness,
643
00:29:03,375 --> 00:29:05,542
but when he gets on board,
644
00:29:05,578 --> 00:29:06,944
he gets on board
in a really big way.
645
00:29:06,979 --> 00:29:11,582
Goldberg:
The fbi wants to catch rick's
criminal clients in the act,
646
00:29:11,617 --> 00:29:14,351
so they ask him to call them up
647
00:29:14,386 --> 00:29:18,255
and pretend like it's
just business as usual.
648
00:29:18,290 --> 00:29:19,790
So, in working with the fbi,
rick's goal was
649
00:29:19,859 --> 00:29:23,861
to get all of his clients
to incriminate themselves,
650
00:29:23,896 --> 00:29:26,530
and he has to do this
as naturally as possible.
651
00:29:26,565 --> 00:29:29,133
Goldberg: When rick calls
felicity huffman, she's worried
652
00:29:29,168 --> 00:29:33,370
that using his scheme to fake
her daughter's sat scores
653
00:29:33,405 --> 00:29:35,472
might raise too many red flags.
654
00:29:35,508 --> 00:29:38,142
Woman as huffman:
I just didn't know
if it'd be odd for the tutor
655
00:29:38,177 --> 00:29:41,512
if we go,
"oh, she did this in March 9th,
656
00:29:41,547 --> 00:29:44,348
but she did
so much better in may."
657
00:29:44,383 --> 00:29:46,550
I don't know
if that'd be like...
658
00:29:46,585 --> 00:29:47,885
If the tutor would be like,
"wow!"
659
00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:49,820
man as singer: The tutor is
just doing her job,
660
00:29:49,855 --> 00:29:52,523
so I don't think she gets well
engaged in that kind of world.
661
00:29:52,558 --> 00:29:55,359
Okay.
So I wouldn't
worry about that.
662
00:29:55,394 --> 00:29:56,460
I think for the average person,
this would be
663
00:29:56,495 --> 00:29:59,029
a tough conversation,
but to rick, this came easily.
664
00:29:59,064 --> 00:30:01,698
I don't think these people
even thought about jail time
665
00:30:01,734 --> 00:30:03,267
while they were doing this,
666
00:30:03,302 --> 00:30:04,835
because he made it seem
like a walk in the park.
667
00:30:04,870 --> 00:30:09,439
Goldberg:
He may have made it sound easy,
but felicity still isn't sold.
668
00:30:09,475 --> 00:30:11,308
She was really torn.
669
00:30:11,343 --> 00:30:13,210
It wasn't a clear,
"yes, I'm gonna do it for her."
670
00:30:13,245 --> 00:30:16,580
it kind of lived through this
drama of "will she, won't she?"
671
00:30:16,615 --> 00:30:20,017
throughout fall of 2018
into early 2019,
672
00:30:20,052 --> 00:30:21,218
when they finally say,
673
00:30:21,253 --> 00:30:23,620
"you know what? No.
We're not going to do it."
674
00:30:23,656 --> 00:30:25,289
goldberg:
But it's too little too late,
675
00:30:25,324 --> 00:30:27,291
because felicity's
already admitted
676
00:30:27,326 --> 00:30:32,029
that she cheated for
her older daughter's sat scores,
677
00:30:32,064 --> 00:30:35,632
and that's enough
for the fbi to make a case.
678
00:30:35,668 --> 00:30:38,368
Gordon caplan isn't so torn.
679
00:30:38,404 --> 00:30:40,270
Without
his daughter's knowledge,
680
00:30:40,306 --> 00:30:42,506
he decides to go through
with the scheme,
681
00:30:42,541 --> 00:30:45,175
like jane buckingham had done.
682
00:30:45,211 --> 00:30:49,279
So, caplan, huffman,
and buckingham are slam dunks,
683
00:30:49,315 --> 00:30:52,049
but rick still has
hundreds of other clients --
684
00:30:52,084 --> 00:30:53,984
most of them past clients.
685
00:30:54,019 --> 00:30:56,854
The feds want them, too.
686
00:30:56,889 --> 00:30:59,523
You have this guy
who is saying, you know,
687
00:30:59,558 --> 00:31:00,757
"I've worked
with all these parents.
688
00:31:00,793 --> 00:31:04,428
We've cheated on all these tests
and with all these schools,"
689
00:31:04,463 --> 00:31:06,263
but they really just have
rick's word.
690
00:31:06,298 --> 00:31:10,367
Goldberg:
The feds need more, which means
rick is gonna need a ploy
691
00:31:10,402 --> 00:31:13,503
to get
these former clients talking.
692
00:31:13,539 --> 00:31:16,273
And the fbi
comes up with a brilliant idea.
693
00:31:16,308 --> 00:31:18,542
Man as singer: They just startd
an audit on my foundation.
694
00:31:18,577 --> 00:31:19,810
Man as huneeus: Yeah?
695
00:31:19,845 --> 00:31:21,245
They've been asking about
696
00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:22,646
both past
and present payments, so...
697
00:31:22,681 --> 00:31:24,982
Jenks:
Rick starts calling the parents,
698
00:31:25,017 --> 00:31:28,285
telling them that the irs
is auditing his nonprofit.
699
00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:33,257
Goldberg:
That's right -- the same
phony nonprofit that rick used
700
00:31:33,292 --> 00:31:36,193
to funnel the money
from all his clients.
701
00:31:36,228 --> 00:31:39,162
It's a good ruse because people
are scared of the irs and taxes,
702
00:31:39,198 --> 00:31:42,666
and it causes people to want
to get their stories straight.
703
00:31:42,701 --> 00:31:44,468
Jenks:
Now, why that's so clever
704
00:31:44,503 --> 00:31:47,204
is that he starts
re-explaining to them
705
00:31:47,239 --> 00:31:50,507
what they had done together.
706
00:31:50,542 --> 00:31:52,976
Goldberg:
So, rick calls lori loughlin
707
00:31:53,012 --> 00:31:56,413
to chat about
her $500,000 donation
708
00:31:56,448 --> 00:31:59,016
and, you know, just get her
709
00:31:59,051 --> 00:32:01,585
to implicate herself
in a massive fraud.
710
00:32:01,620 --> 00:32:03,620
The irs audits
large foundations,
711
00:32:03,656 --> 00:32:05,889
and we have so much money
in our foundation,
712
00:32:05,925 --> 00:32:07,224
and we give away
so much money there.
713
00:32:07,259 --> 00:32:08,959
They want to --
you know,
714
00:32:08,994 --> 00:32:09,626
they're always worried about
things going on in foundations.
715
00:32:09,662 --> 00:32:10,294
Woman as loughlin:
I see.
716
00:32:10,329 --> 00:32:11,395
If they happen to call you,
717
00:32:11,430 --> 00:32:13,330
is that nothing has been said
about the girls --
718
00:32:13,365 --> 00:32:17,267
your donations, helping
the girls get into usc to do --
719
00:32:17,303 --> 00:32:17,834
even though
they didn't do crew.
720
00:32:17,870 --> 00:32:19,102
Okay.
721
00:32:19,138 --> 00:32:21,939
So nothing like that
has ever been mentioned.
722
00:32:21,974 --> 00:32:23,907
If you ever --
ever were to say anything.
723
00:32:23,943 --> 00:32:26,009
So -- so we just --
so we just have to say,
724
00:32:26,045 --> 00:32:29,212
"we made a donation to your
foundation," and that's it.
725
00:32:29,248 --> 00:32:30,814
End of story.
That is correct.
726
00:32:30,849 --> 00:32:31,848
Okay.
Terrific.
727
00:32:31,884 --> 00:32:33,483
Okay.
728
00:32:33,519 --> 00:32:36,286
Goldberg:
Rick is on a roll,
729
00:32:36,322 --> 00:32:38,121
taking down his clients
one by one.
730
00:32:38,157 --> 00:32:40,457
There's a payment, obviously,
for 50k in April
731
00:32:40,492 --> 00:32:43,994
for us taking -- for your
daughter taking the test.
732
00:32:44,029 --> 00:32:45,629
Man as huneeus:
Yeah, I remember.
733
00:32:45,664 --> 00:32:47,798
The reason
that rick singer was so easily
734
00:32:47,833 --> 00:32:50,367
able to get his clients
to confess is twofold.
735
00:32:50,402 --> 00:32:51,468
One -- a lot of them
were entitled
736
00:32:51,503 --> 00:32:54,137
and didn't really see
what they were doing as a crime.
737
00:32:54,173 --> 00:32:56,840
What I'm gonna tell them is
that you made a 50k donation
738
00:32:56,875 --> 00:32:59,276
to my foundation
for underserved kids,
739
00:32:59,311 --> 00:33:00,744
and not that mark riddell
740
00:33:00,779 --> 00:33:02,546
took the test
for your daughter or --
741
00:33:02,581 --> 00:33:04,881
dude, dude. What do you think,
I'm a moron?
742
00:33:04,917 --> 00:33:06,216
I'm going to say
that I've been inspired how
743
00:33:06,251 --> 00:33:09,052
you're helping underprivileged
kids get into college.
744
00:33:09,088 --> 00:33:10,320
Totally got it.
745
00:33:10,356 --> 00:33:14,992
And two -- because rick is
talented at manipulating people,
746
00:33:15,027 --> 00:33:16,927
creating false narratives,
747
00:33:16,962 --> 00:33:18,528
and getting people
to let their guard down.
748
00:33:18,564 --> 00:33:21,398
Man as isackson: I think we'll
definitely pay cash this time.
749
00:33:21,433 --> 00:33:25,469
Goldberg:
The feds are blown away
by the sheer number of parents
750
00:33:25,504 --> 00:33:28,538
who tried to bribe
their kids' way into college
751
00:33:28,574 --> 00:33:31,441
and by how many coaches
752
00:33:31,477 --> 00:33:33,510
and college administrators
753
00:33:33,545 --> 00:33:35,946
took those bribes.
754
00:33:35,981 --> 00:33:38,949
Rick's con
had spread like wildfire,
755
00:33:38,984 --> 00:33:43,153
and now everyone involved
is really gonna feel the heat,
756
00:33:43,188 --> 00:33:48,325
because the fbi is going public
with operation varsity blues.
757
00:33:48,360 --> 00:33:51,294
[ helicopter blades whirring ]
758
00:33:51,330 --> 00:33:54,031
levitz:
On March 12, 2019,
759
00:33:54,066 --> 00:33:55,732
more than 30 parents
get charged.
760
00:33:55,768 --> 00:34:00,737
So, like, just in l.A.,
they had 13 homes to go to.
761
00:34:00,773 --> 00:34:02,372
They planned to do
all these arrests
762
00:34:02,408 --> 00:34:04,608
very early in the morning --
763
00:34:04,643 --> 00:34:06,476
house by house,
banged on the door.
764
00:34:06,512 --> 00:34:08,879
It was quite a shock
to the parents.
765
00:34:08,914 --> 00:34:10,580
Most of them were asleep.
766
00:34:10,616 --> 00:34:14,684
The parents were arrested
all around the country.
767
00:34:14,720 --> 00:34:16,787
Levitz:
They were cuffed.
768
00:34:16,822 --> 00:34:20,057
They were brought down
to federal lockup.
769
00:34:20,092 --> 00:34:22,859
It's possible some of them
knew why they were there,
770
00:34:22,895 --> 00:34:25,062
but others didn't know
what they all had in common.
771
00:34:25,097 --> 00:34:26,963
And a curious thing
started to happen,
772
00:34:26,999 --> 00:34:31,068
which is some of the parents
began to recognize one another.
773
00:34:31,103 --> 00:34:35,172
And then, at one point,
one of the coaches said,
774
00:34:35,207 --> 00:34:37,574
"do you guys know rick singer?"
775
00:34:37,609 --> 00:34:40,310
and their mouths
just dropped opened,
776
00:34:40,345 --> 00:34:41,878
and it clicked
why they were there.
777
00:34:41,914 --> 00:34:43,080
Goldberg:
But guess who's not there.
778
00:34:43,115 --> 00:34:44,948
Rick singer!
779
00:34:44,983 --> 00:34:47,451
He's out on bail
down in sunny florida,
780
00:34:47,486 --> 00:34:51,421
which andrew jenks saw
as an opportunity.
781
00:34:51,457 --> 00:34:54,758
I was trying to delve
not just into the scheme,
782
00:34:54,793 --> 00:34:57,761
but also into the mind-set
rick singer had.
783
00:34:57,796 --> 00:34:59,729
If that's where
he was last spotted,
784
00:34:59,765 --> 00:35:01,698
why don't I go down there
and try and find him
785
00:35:01,733 --> 00:35:03,533
and ask him questions?
786
00:35:03,569 --> 00:35:05,035
Goldberg: So andrew jenks
tracks rick down...
787
00:35:05,070 --> 00:35:06,703
Jenks: That's our guy.
788
00:35:06,738 --> 00:35:09,005
...To see if he has any,
you know, liar's remorse.
789
00:35:09,041 --> 00:35:10,774
Rick, if you could change
one decision in your life,
790
00:35:10,809 --> 00:35:11,541
what would it be?
791
00:35:11,577 --> 00:35:14,678
♪
792
00:35:19,017 --> 00:35:20,617
goldberg: In March of 2019,
793
00:35:20,652 --> 00:35:24,921
news of the college admissions
scandal goes nationwide.
794
00:35:24,957 --> 00:35:27,190
Announcer: This is
"good morning america."
795
00:35:27,226 --> 00:35:28,925
good morning, america.
796
00:35:28,961 --> 00:35:30,026
All the latest now on
that massive scheme --
797
00:35:30,062 --> 00:35:34,331
rich and famous parents
cheat their kids into college.
798
00:35:34,366 --> 00:35:36,399
Woman: [ screams ]
lori, we love you!
799
00:35:36,435 --> 00:35:37,601
Hi.
800
00:35:37,636 --> 00:35:40,303
Goldberg: Rick singer's clients
have been charged
801
00:35:40,339 --> 00:35:42,439
and are awaiting
their court dates.
802
00:35:42,474 --> 00:35:45,976
These individuals are
not thought to commit crimes.
803
00:35:46,011 --> 00:35:48,912
Woman: Love you!
You're so beautiful!
Oh, thank you!
804
00:35:48,947 --> 00:35:51,014
Man: Lori, are you gonna
fight these charges? Lori?
805
00:35:51,049 --> 00:35:53,016
I mean, I think about
white-collar crime
806
00:35:53,051 --> 00:35:54,317
as a white-privilege
matter, right?
807
00:35:54,353 --> 00:35:55,852
In our consciousness,
808
00:35:55,888 --> 00:35:58,622
a white, wealthy person
does not commit a crime,
809
00:35:58,657 --> 00:35:59,823
and they don't think
of themselves
810
00:35:59,858 --> 00:36:01,491
as committing a crime.
811
00:36:01,527 --> 00:36:02,859
They have a right,
because they have the money.
812
00:36:02,895 --> 00:36:08,131
Goldberg: All part of the perks
of being the 1% of the 1%.
813
00:36:08,167 --> 00:36:10,433
And sometimes
having all that money
814
00:36:10,469 --> 00:36:12,235
gives you
a get out of jail free card,
815
00:36:12,271 --> 00:36:14,304
but not this time.
816
00:36:14,339 --> 00:36:17,174
Korn: The first parent to be
sentenced was felicity huffman,
817
00:36:17,209 --> 00:36:21,711
and she was sentenced
in September.
818
00:36:21,747 --> 00:36:23,079
Would she get jailed? Would they
send felicity huffman to prison?
819
00:36:23,115 --> 00:36:26,383
There was this concern that
if she didn't get prison time,
820
00:36:26,418 --> 00:36:27,884
it just went to show
821
00:36:27,920 --> 00:36:30,387
that rich people got off easy.
822
00:36:30,422 --> 00:36:32,622
I was inside
when felicity huffman
823
00:36:32,658 --> 00:36:34,424
was set to appear,
824
00:36:34,459 --> 00:36:36,826
and she just looked really pale.
825
00:36:36,862 --> 00:36:39,129
She looked sad.
826
00:36:39,164 --> 00:36:40,897
She very well could have
been acting, obviously,
827
00:36:40,933 --> 00:36:44,935
but there did seem to be
some signs of contrition
828
00:36:44,970 --> 00:36:47,971
as she teared up
when she was talking.
829
00:36:48,006 --> 00:36:51,341
Korn: She was sentenced
to 14 days in federal prison,
830
00:36:51,376 --> 00:36:54,277
and there were gasps
in the room.
831
00:36:54,313 --> 00:36:56,313
People were shocked.
832
00:36:56,348 --> 00:37:01,384
And the prosecutor saw this
as a big win.
833
00:37:01,420 --> 00:37:03,353
Goldberg:
Huffman pleads guilty.
834
00:37:03,388 --> 00:37:05,288
She's sentenced
to two weeks in prison,
835
00:37:05,324 --> 00:37:07,924
250 hours of community service,
836
00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:11,962
and is slapped
with a $30,000 fine.
837
00:37:11,997 --> 00:37:13,263
Reporter: Jail time
for another parent
838
00:37:13,298 --> 00:37:16,366
caught up in the varsity blues
college admissions scandal.
839
00:37:16,401 --> 00:37:20,203
Goldberg:
Felicity's pal jane buckingham
also pleads guilty
840
00:37:20,239 --> 00:37:23,740
and gets 21 days in prison
and a $40,000 fine.
841
00:37:23,775 --> 00:37:28,311
Gordon caplan, the big-time
lawyer, is sentenced also.
842
00:37:28,347 --> 00:37:29,412
I'm truly sorry.
843
00:37:29,448 --> 00:37:33,850
One month in prison,
250 hours of community service,
844
00:37:33,885 --> 00:37:35,385
and a $50,000 fine.
845
00:37:35,420 --> 00:37:37,821
Lori loughlin
and her husband, mossimo,
846
00:37:37,856 --> 00:37:39,456
initially plead not guilty,
847
00:37:39,491 --> 00:37:44,394
but after more than a year,
change that plea to guilty.
848
00:37:44,429 --> 00:37:46,162
Actress lori loughlin
was sentenced
849
00:37:46,198 --> 00:37:47,664
to two months
in federal prison today --
850
00:37:47,699 --> 00:37:50,533
her husband, mossimo giannulli,
sentenced to five months.
851
00:37:50,569 --> 00:37:52,435
The couple also fined $400,000,
852
00:37:52,471 --> 00:37:58,742
the judge telling loughlin he
was dumbfounded by her actions.
853
00:37:58,777 --> 00:38:02,445
Goldberg:
As for olivia jade, she stopped
posting on social media
854
00:38:02,481 --> 00:38:04,381
after her parents' arrest,
855
00:38:04,416 --> 00:38:06,916
before finally updating
her followers.
856
00:38:06,952 --> 00:38:10,754
Obviously, I've been gone
for a really long time,
857
00:38:10,789 --> 00:38:12,289
but the reason for that
is just 'cause
858
00:38:12,324 --> 00:38:16,559
I'm legally not allowed to speak
on anything going on right now.
859
00:38:16,595 --> 00:38:20,530
Goldberg:
Olivia jade and her sister were
never implicated in the crime.
860
00:38:20,565 --> 00:38:22,465
They are no longer
enrolled at usc,
861
00:38:22,501 --> 00:38:26,970
and olivia jade's gotten a lot
of backlash on social media.
862
00:38:27,005 --> 00:38:28,872
Mosley: I know
a lot of people get upset
863
00:38:28,907 --> 00:38:31,007
when they think
about olivia jade.
864
00:38:31,043 --> 00:38:32,942
I try not to demonize
these kids.
865
00:38:32,978 --> 00:38:34,611
They're young,
and unfortunately,
866
00:38:34,646 --> 00:38:37,480
their parents made a mistake
that they, too, have to pay for.
867
00:38:37,516 --> 00:38:40,784
Muir: The alleged mastermind,
william singer, pleading guilty.
868
00:38:40,819 --> 00:38:43,586
Federal prosecutors say
the investigation is ongoing.
869
00:38:43,622 --> 00:38:47,390
We don't yet know what singer
will be sentenced to.
870
00:38:47,426 --> 00:38:50,393
He will be sentenced
likely after everyone else.
871
00:38:50,429 --> 00:38:53,063
Goldberg: Rick faces
up to 65 years in prison,
872
00:38:53,098 --> 00:38:55,632
but it's possible that
his cooperation with the feds
873
00:38:55,667 --> 00:38:57,701
can spring him out early.
874
00:38:57,736 --> 00:38:59,502
Man: How about all
the students that were qualified
875
00:38:59,538 --> 00:39:01,304
and were cheated
out of a spot?
876
00:39:01,340 --> 00:39:02,872
We have no comment.
877
00:39:02,908 --> 00:39:04,274
But the college counselor
878
00:39:04,309 --> 00:39:06,643
who had suspicions about rick
early on
879
00:39:06,678 --> 00:39:10,980
has something to say about
what his punishment should be.
880
00:39:11,016 --> 00:39:13,049
Rick singer, I hope
you rot in prison.
881
00:39:13,085 --> 00:39:15,752
You had kids lie.
882
00:39:15,787 --> 00:39:19,289
You made kids,
perhaps innocent kids,
883
00:39:19,324 --> 00:39:20,657
not so innocent anymore
884
00:39:20,692 --> 00:39:24,027
by encouraging them
to do unethical activity.
885
00:39:24,062 --> 00:39:27,897
You crossed the line, and you
deserve every punishment
886
00:39:27,933 --> 00:39:31,334
that I hope you get.
887
00:39:31,370 --> 00:39:34,304
Goldberg: Rick is out
on a $500,000 bond
888
00:39:34,339 --> 00:39:35,672
and is still waiting
to be sentenced.
889
00:39:35,707 --> 00:39:38,141
He's a con man. Rick singer
is really just a con man.
890
00:39:38,176 --> 00:39:40,510
He wanted to make
a lot of money,
891
00:39:40,545 --> 00:39:42,245
so he took advantage
of the system.
892
00:39:42,280 --> 00:39:43,747
Jenks:
Is the system broken?
893
00:39:43,782 --> 00:39:47,450
Any comment on anything?
894
00:39:47,486 --> 00:39:49,319
You seem
pretty comfortable.
895
00:39:49,354 --> 00:39:52,655
When I tracked down rick,
he is very casual --
896
00:39:52,691 --> 00:39:57,527
shirt off, backwards hat,
almost taking his time --
897
00:39:57,562 --> 00:39:59,929
which led me to start to wonder,
898
00:39:59,965 --> 00:40:01,631
"does this guy
want the attention?"
899
00:40:01,666 --> 00:40:05,001
did any good
come out of this, rick?
900
00:40:05,036 --> 00:40:05,702
You seem like
you're comfortable.
901
00:40:05,737 --> 00:40:08,304
You're taking your time
here.
902
00:40:08,340 --> 00:40:12,709
Did you really work
with over 700 families?
903
00:40:12,744 --> 00:40:14,277
Rick,
is the system broken?
904
00:40:14,312 --> 00:40:19,349
♪
905
00:40:19,384 --> 00:40:21,050
unfortunately,
what rick singer is doing
906
00:40:21,086 --> 00:40:23,586
is he's conning students
907
00:40:23,622 --> 00:40:27,390
who deserve
to go to these schools.
908
00:40:27,426 --> 00:40:29,859
Another student
who's worked really hard to go
909
00:40:29,895 --> 00:40:32,529
is getting a rejection letter.
910
00:40:32,564 --> 00:40:34,130
Mosley: When stuff like
this happens,
911
00:40:34,166 --> 00:40:36,499
those kids are
robbed of opportunities.
912
00:40:36,535 --> 00:40:37,734
They're the real victims
of this.
913
00:40:37,769 --> 00:40:41,738
Goldberg: Young people robbed
of their hopes and dreams,
914
00:40:41,773 --> 00:40:44,007
colleges and universities
exposed,
915
00:40:44,042 --> 00:40:46,042
and our trust
in higher education
916
00:40:46,077 --> 00:40:47,944
perhaps forever tainted --
917
00:40:47,979 --> 00:40:52,515
all because of a young kid
with a big chip on his shoulder
918
00:40:52,551 --> 00:40:54,851
and the privileged few
who preach one thing
919
00:40:54,886 --> 00:40:57,086
and practice something
completely different.
920
00:40:57,122 --> 00:41:01,991
Which leads us to some
sage advice from lori loughlin,
921
00:41:02,027 --> 00:41:04,227
here in an interview
with "page six,"
922
00:41:04,262 --> 00:41:08,198
the same year she cheated
her daughter's way into school.
923
00:41:08,233 --> 00:41:09,599
We were never
those parents.
924
00:41:09,634 --> 00:41:11,100
We were always like,
"you know what?
925
00:41:11,136 --> 00:41:12,702
Give it your all.
Do the best you can."
926
00:41:12,737 --> 00:41:14,871
'cause in life,
if you give it your all
927
00:41:14,906 --> 00:41:17,073
and you do the best you can,
that's it.
928
00:41:17,108 --> 00:41:20,276
That's all you can do.
And that's enough.