topic Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students in Community Chat

Federal Prosecutors Target Students

Johnnyeager — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 14:10:07 GMT

Federal prosecutors in the "Operation Varsity Blues" case have sent "target letters" to some students and graduates who were at least 18 at the time and may have been aware of the scheme.

Target letters tell the recipient that they are subject to an investigation.

It's likely that these are being used as a tool to pressure reluctant parents to enter into a plea agreement. No word yet on exactly which students have been "targeted".

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

Bri369 — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 14:13:06 GMT

It gives me an uneasy feeling that they're targeting the kids to get to the parents.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

hckynut — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 14:36:57 GMT

Good! At age 18, in most states, you are considered an adult. This does not only involve parents and I would be hard pressed to believe the "adult student" was/is not aware of what got them into a specific college.

My interests and concern is for the "students" that got left out because of some illegal shenanigans perpetrated by some overzealous parent(s). I do not and have never bought into this 18+ years olds being considered children. Parents will always see them as "their child/children, whatever", I do not. If the state in which they live consider them adults. They should be held legally responsible for their actions.

My kids, by choice? All have 4 legs and fur, but in WWII many Fighter Pilots and Infantry Men, were 19 years old. So what's changed and why.?

hckynut

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

NicksmomESQ — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 14:53:35 GMT

Good!! At 18 you’re a legal adult.You can vote, you can go to war & you can get married.You’re old enough to know better.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

Johnnyeager — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 14:59:17 GMT

Although some disagree, I'm willing to view the students knowledge/involvement on a continuum.

For example, Felicity contends that her daughter knew nothing; her test was altered by Mark Riddell after she left the room (according to the prosecutors' affidavit). Her test score improved modestly, but not markedly over her PSAT.

Most students who posed as athletes were obviously complicit. And the affidavit states that Isabelle Henriquez sat with her phony "proctor" and actively cheated with him on the SAT, "gloating" about their deed later.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

Bri369 — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 14:59:55 GMT

I'm not excusing the kids at all. I think if they were involved, they should receive some punishment as well.

I'm pretty sure most of these kids had no idea of the legal ramifications that this entails...

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

bonnielu — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 15:01:56 GMT

I think there is lots more to this. Knowingly letting someone take a test for you or changing answers is totally immoral, criminal, etc. And these people should have consequences, parents or legal age children (who knew about it). BUT where does it stop? How about donating a building or sports complex or ..... All kinds of preferences that have nothing to do with getting in on MERIT. And if my father went to Harvard, does that mean I do to? No limit and where is the line?

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

Johnnyeager — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 15:30:41 GMT

Currently, legacy admissions are not illegal. We all know that schools, particularly the Ivy League, use this as a preference. However, Congress could pass a law making that practice illegal, if that's what the public really wants. I've always been aware that getting admitted into some colleges was not based 100% on merit. It's a flawed system, but not criminal.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

SeaGal — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 15:16:06 GMT

If the many kids knew what the parents were doing, they would at least be witnesses to the crimes. What good prosecutor would go to trial without squeezing the witnesses he was aware of. So they definitely will be brought in to see what they knew and some will probably be charged too.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

occasionalrain — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:17:33 GMT

@Bri369 Ignorance of the law is no excuse or a valid defence.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

Bri369 — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:22:52 GMT

@occasionalrain wrote:
@Bri369 Ignorance of the law is no excuse or a valid defence.

I didn't say it was.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

Cats3000 — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:24:09 GMT

They ought to be targeting the kids, period. Those kids had to know what was going on because it involved them and activities that they never participated in, supposedly picture of the kids in athletic situations, etc. The claims that they were merely innocent bystanders are bogus.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

occasionalrain — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:25:51 GMT

If a person unknowingly buys a stolen TV and it's discovered, the TV is taken and the buyer is out what he paid. Even those students who were unaware, doubt there are any, should have to forfeit their admission and, if they've received a degree, that too.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

Cats3000 — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:26:00 GMT

@Bri369 That's how law inforcement works.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

Johnnyeager — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:26:20 GMT

I contend that a small number of the students probably knew nothing at the time. I won't use the same examples, because it becomes redundant, but examples are out there.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

Bri369 — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:29:19 GMT

@Cats3000 wrote:
@Bri369 That's how law inforcement works.

I know how law enforcement works.

The parents shouldn't have to wait for their kids to be targeted before doing the right thing and owning up to what they did.

If the kids were complicit, then they will find themselves in trouble with the law also.

I'm sure most of those kids knew what they were doing or what their parents were doing were wrong, but had no idea they were facing federal charges.

I hope I'm making myself clear. I'm not excusing what anyone did at all.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

Cats3000 — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:29:33 GMT

@Johnnyeager Felicity Huffman's credibility should be just below zero. Same with Lori Loughlin and the rest of the parents.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

Mj12 — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:34:10 GMT

From what I read today, prosecutors sent the adult students the target letters only if they were 18 when the plans were "hatched and accomplished." Only a few students got the letters, and they were sent around the same time the big indictments were unsealed.

I think most of the students had no idea; then there is this example (and IMO people like her should be charged and not just sent a letter):

In one instance, the older daughter of Elizabeth and Manuel Henriquez — the founder of a Silicon Valley hedge fund — allegedly sat next to Florida test-taking whiz Mark Riddell while she took a college entrance exam and Riddell gave her the answers. After the test, Riddell allegedly “gloated” with Elizabeth Henriquez and the daughter about how they had cheated, according to an FBI affidavit.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

Lipstickdiva — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:37:31 GMT

@Johnnyeager wrote:
Although some disagree, I'm willing to view the students knowledge/involvement on a continuum.

For example, Felicity contends that her daughter knew nothing; her test was altered by Mark Riddell after she left the room (according to the prosecutors' affidavit). Her test score improved modestly, but not markedly over her PSAT.

Most students who posed as athletes were obviously complicit. And the affidavit states that Isabelle Henriquez sat with her phony "proctor" and actively cheated with him on the SAT, "gloating" about their deed later.

It was 400 points higher. I'd say that's quite a difference.

Re: Federal Prosecutors Target Students

Johnnyeager — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:39:07 GMT

But Mark Riddell could have corrected it to give her a perfect score.