@Johnnyeager wrote:
Sources close to the investigation have informed the LA Times today that Lori's daughters, Olivia Jade and Bella have not received target letters from the Justice Department. Three letters are known to have been sent to children.
Additionally, there are reports that Lori's attorneys are feeling increasingly confident about her chances in a trial as they review the government's evidence and documents.
Defense attorneys are saying that a sympathetic case could be built to sway a jury, making it difficult for the prosecution to prove criminal intent.
The key question for the parents' defense is "Where did the parents hear of the man who would arrange this?" If they heard of him through a trusted source (school guidance counselor, college official, etc.) and were assured the process was legal and done all the time, a jury may very well acquit. Proving criminal intent can often be challenging.
Many of the well-to-do hire people for nearly everything they consider tedious, from raising their children, tutoring their children, to cooking, cleaning, doing their taxes, doing their yardwork/household maintenance, doing their hair/makeup, and more. Hiring someone to help navigate the maze of college admission would not seem unusual to them. I'm pretty sure he was referred to them by someone. They were unlikely to have looked him up in the Yellow Pages. If they can show that whoever referred them to him was someone they trusted (and my best guess is it was a school official) then showing criminal intent on the part of the parents becomes challenging for the prosecutors.
The man who arranged all of this had a legitimate looking storefront and promotional materials from what I understand. Most criminals don't bother with such niceties. He gave the appearance of being a legitimate business, and he delivered on his promises. Their children were accepted to the college of their choice. Why would they assume anything was done illegally? They may have realised he was bending rules by saying the girls were athletes, but if he assured them this was normal, why would they doubt him?
Many of the wealthy don't bother with the details and simply trust those they hire to get the job done. They then pay the fee and move on. This guy got the job done. Did they know the details? Probably not. Neither did their children. They were simply told, "This is the way it's done," and paid the required fees and got the desired results.
Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!
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