Abdelaziz has spent the majority of his 65 years working hard and helping others, the lawyers wrote, describing Mr. Abdelazizs rise from poverty in Cairo, Egypt, where he was born, to top positions at MGM Grand, MGM Hospitality and Wynn Resorts. [13][4][18] He was accused of federal charges which included donating $300,000 to a college consulting nonprofit in order to facilitate the falsification of his daughter's athletic honors as well as a false athletic profile. He resigned just four months later. "What they did was an affront to hard-working students and parents," Acting U.S. Attorney Nathaniel Mendell said. A federal trial determined that the investigation was misguided and all were found not guilty. Wynn is currently under review by the MGC to determine whether they are suitable to hold a gaming license after disclosure that they hid sexually harassment complaints levied agains their CEO and co-founder, Steve Wynn. Unlike more than 30 of the other parents nabbed in Operation Varsity Blues, Abdelaziz didnt reach a plea deal with prosecutors. said in a statement that the trial is about whether these two remaining defendants committed a crime. And it has fought efforts by the defendants to get their hands on documents about its tracking of so-called V.I.P. Prosecutors have alleged that Abdelaziz paid $300,000 to Singer in 2017 to get his daughter, who didnt qualify for her high school varsity basketball team, into USC as a basketball recruit. The profile falsely claimed she was Hong Kong Academys team captain, had been named team MVP and had earned spots on the Asia Pacific Activities conference All-Star Team and the Beijing Junior National Team. as a basketball player based on false qualifications. Former Wynn Macau president Gamal Abdelaziz knew a thing or two about odds when his daughter wanted to attend the University of Southern California five years ago. Aziz confirmed that he would provide the same story if questioned. 1-year sentence for bribe to secure daughter's USC admission is As explained in other Sportico stories, Operation Varsity Blues is predicated on the crime of honest services wire fraud. Prosecutors, defense make closing arguments in Varsity Blues trial will be the first woman to head the institution, a large-scale, low-cost online Master of Science degree program. Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. In the end, this trial will unfold just as this years high school seniors are applying to college. The operations was known as Varsity Blues. (you can read all the gory details here). Beginning in or about 2011, and continuing through the present, the defendants principally individuals whose high-school aged children were applying to college conspired with others to use bribery and other forms of fraud to facilitate their childrens admission to colleges and universities in the District of Massachusetts and elsewhere, including Yale University, Stanford University, the University of Texas, the University of Southern California, and the University of California Los Angeles , . Ex-Strip casino executive appeals conviction in college bribery case 2023 Sportico Media, LLC. Gamal Abdelaziz, 64, of Las Vegas, paid the bribe to secure his daughter's admission to the University of Southern California as a "basketball recruit." His daughter had not played. More than 50 people have been charged in the sprawling case, which was orchestrated, prosecutors said, by William Singer, a Newport Beach, Calif., businessman who has been cooperating with federal investigators since September 2018. On the fourth day of testimony in the trial of former casino executive Gamal Abdelaziz and another parent, Rachel Sih was shown her high school yearbook, which included the same photo of a girl playing basketball that was used to try to get the defendants daughter into the University of Southern California as a basketball recruit. Giving money to a school with a hope that it gets your kid in is not a crime, said Brian Kelly,Abdelazizslawyer, to jurors. Aziz paid $300,000 to get his daughter into USC through this bogus program and accolades of his falsified documentation were caught on FBI wiretaps: Cooperating Witness-1: And so I just want you to know form the IRS, you know, Im not going to tell the IRS anything about the fact that your $300,000 was paid to Donna, Donna Heinel at USC, to get [daughter name here] into school even though she wasnt a legitimate basketball player at that level. Gamal Abdelaziz, a former casino executive, and John Wilson, a former Staples Inc. executive, were found guilty after about 10 hours of deliberations in the case that exposed a scheme to get . Kelly told the jury that Singer is a skilled con man who is responsible for any violation of the law. Abdelaziz, of Las Vegas, was charged with paying $300,000 to get his daughter into the University of Southern California as a basketball recruit even though she didn't even make it onto her. White House: Unacceptable for states to target access to federally approved abortion pills, LabMD loses lawsuit accusing FTC of conspiring in hacking, Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston College admissions scandal: First trial in alleged bribery scheme heads Books - Noor Library Aziz, who was not a qualifier for the gaming license in Massachusetts, was a qualifier in Macau. Gamal Abdelaziz, a former hotel and casino executive, is accused of paying $300,000 to get his daughter admitted to the University of Southern California as a basketball player based on false. We want to hear from you! In September 2018, Mr. Abdelazizs daughter enrolled at U.S.C., but she did not join the basketball team, prosecutors said. More than three dozen parents in the college admissions scam case either pleaded guilty or were convicted following trial. [4] In October 2021, he was found guilty, and in February 2022 he was sentenced to serve one year and one day in federal prison. On Monday, prosecutorscalled their first witness, Bruce Isackson, a real-estate developer from Northern California and a parent in the scam who has been cooperating with the feds. Aziz played an instrumental role in the Wynn project now underway in Everett, MA, just outside of Boston. Gamal Abdelaziz, 64, and John Wilson, 62, are the first parents in the scheme to be convicted by a federal jury, Liz McCarthy, a spokesperson for the US Attorney's Office - District of . 1-year sentence for bribe to secure daughter's USC admission is He was most recently a reporter at The Lowell Sun. First trial of college admissions scandal begins - New York Post Absolutely great. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Longtime casino executive Gamal Abdelaziz has been named in the DOJ college bribery complaint and charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. As part of the scheme, a co-conspirator created a basketball profile for his daughter, which included a photo of a different athlete and listed falsified awards and athletic honors. as a water polo player, then conspiring to pay another $1.5 million to secure admission for his daughters to Harvard and Stanford. Above, Abdelaziz arrives at federal . Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. Attorneys for Abdelaziz argued to Judge Gorton that the convictions are unsupported as a matter of law. Abdelaziz (known as Aziz") was one of fifty people arrested who were part of a scheme to fakeathletic. Gamal Abdelaziz, a former casino executive, and John Wilson, the founder and CEO of the private equity and real estate development firm Hyannis Port Capital in Hyannisport, where he also owns a . William Rick Singer, the so-called godfather behind the Varsity Blues scheme, is now cooperating with the government and has handed over emails and secret recordings he made of his dealings with parents. Gamal Abdelaziz was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton in a Boston federal court to one year and one day in prison for conspiring to facilitate his daughter's admittance . 2 wealthy parents convicted in first trial of college bribery scandal At issue are the parents conduct, U.S.C.s admissions practices and possibly the fairness of the college admissions process itself. We've received your submission. Gamal Abdelaziz, 64, of Las Vegas, paid the bribe to secure his daughters admission to the University of Southern California as a basketball recruit. His daughter had not played basketball in more than a year, and she didnt even make it onto her high schools varsity basketball team. or redistributed. Lynn Parent Is Defendant In 1st 'Varsity Blues' Trial That - WBUR [22][23][24], On September 8, 2021, Aziz's criminal trial officially began, with jury selection commencing in a Boston federal court. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo. Ex-Casino Executive Gets 1 Year and 1 Day in Prison in College Prosecutors had recommended a sentence of 14 months in prison, writing in the memorandum that Mr. Abdelaziz has not only failed to accept responsibility for his conduct but continues, even now, to minimize his culpability with deflections and excuses.. Abdelaziz and Singer discussed by phone how to handle the daughters absence from the basketball team. Mr. Singer wrote a false athletic profile, with Mr. Wilsons knowledge. When asked about other things on Sabrina Abdelazizs athletic profile, she also said, Its untrue that she was starting point guard or varsity captain.. In 2000 a PhD in Geotechnical Engineering (Pile Foundations) from Concordia University in Montreal (Quebec, Canada) was obtained; and in 1993 a M.Sc. In a call prosecutors played for the jury, Singer told Wilson that it "doesnt matter" what sport they were paired with and that he would "make them a sailor or something. Gamal Abdelaziz of Las Vegas, Nev., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to one year and one day in prison, two years of supervised release, 400 hours of community service and a fine of $250,000. By paying $300,000 to have her depicted as a top Trojans basketball recruit, the hotel and casino executive boosted her admissions chances from uncertain to near guaranteed. Jurors are expected to begin deliberating on Thursday after the judge gives his instructions. The judge also denied those motions for financier John Wilson, who was similarly convicted and who arranged to have his son admitted into USC as a fake water polo recruit. Gamal Abdelaziz, a former casino executive, and John Wilson, a former Staples Inc. executive, were found guilty after about 10 hours of deliberations in the case that exposed a scheme to get. Parent sentenced in college admissions scheme Man sentenced to one year in federal prison over college - UPI A former Wynn Resorts executive has been sentenced to one year in prison after he was convicted of paying a $300,000 bribe as part of the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal in the stiffest sentence handed out to date. Gamal Abdelaziz, a former casino executive, and John Wilson, a former Staples Inc. executive, were found guilty after about 10 hours of deliberations in the case that exposed a scheme to get. Gamal Abdelaziz, a formerWynn Resortsexecutive, and John Wilson, a private-equity investor, paidhundreds of thousands of dollars to former college counselor andscheme mastermind William Rick Singerto try toget their kidsinto the University of Southern California and other schools by falsely presenting them as athletic recruits, Assistant US Attorney Leslie Wright said in opening statements in Massachusetts federal court. Former Wynn Resorts executive Gamal Abdelaziz, right, arriving at Boston federal courthouse for his sentencing hearing Feb. 9, 2022. Prosecutors have said they dont intend to call Singer as a witness, though they have left openthe possibility. In this March 2019 photo, William "Rick" Singer, founder of the Edge College & Career Network, departs federal court in Boston after he pleaded guilty to charges in a nationwide college admissions bribery scandal. By MELISSA CHEN. Singer pleaded guilty in 2019 to facilitating cheating on college entrance exams and funneling money from the parents to corrupt coaches and athletics officials in order to secure the admission of their children as fake athletes. Anyone can read what you share. By paying $300,000 to have her depicted as a top Trojans basketball recruit, the hotel and casino executive boosted her admissions chances from uncertain to near guaranteed. [2][6], Aziz helped Steve Wynn open the Bellagio, the most expensive US hotel ever built, as that hotel's senior vice president, a post he held from 1998 to 2000. Nazik is a senior employee of the family planning agency, and her husband, Dr. Hussein, is a gynecologist and obstetrician. February 11, 2022. (Daily Trojan file photo) Two parents convicted of bribing their children's way into USC in the 2019 college admissions scandal will remain free on bail while they appeal their cases, a federal judge ordered Thursday. Singer responded that it "doesnt matter" and that he would "make them a sailor or something" because Wilson lives on Cape Cod. Gamal Abdelaziz arrives at federal court, Oct. 7, 2021, in Boston. Rick is a Massachusetts native and graduated from Boston University. But by then, Singer was working with federal investigators to expose the operation, and the alleged scheme failed for his daughters. Operation Varsity Blues: Ex-Wynn Resorts executive sentenced to 1 year Former Las Vegas Casino Exec Sentenced To 1 Year In Prison In - Forbes Fox News Flash top headlines for October 7. Parent in college bribery scandal gets year in prison Another co-conspirator who worked in the USC athletic department then used that fake profile to secure the admission of Abdelaziz daughter to USC as a purported basketball recruit. The daughter matriculated to USC in the fall of 2018. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. ", Wilson laughed and responded: "Is there a two for one special? A Geotechnical Engineer with 32 years of experience in Civil Engineering. In October 2017, Abdelaziz's daughter was admitted to USC as a basketball recruit and in March 2018, she was formally accepted and Abdelaziz wired $300,000 to KWF. Former Casino Executive Charged in DOJ College Bribery Indictment Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), 1-year sentence for bribe to secure daughters USC admission is stiffest penalty to date, 7 house fires prompt fears about gas meters buried in snow. Nearly four dozen people have already pleaded guilty in the case. Previously, he was the president of Wynn Macau Limited and also the chief operating officer of Wynn Resorts Development. CW-1: But, yeah, it was great. All Rights Reserved. Former Wynn Macau president Gamal Abdelaziz knew a thing or two about odds when his daughter wanted to attend the University of Southern California five years ago. (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images). According the the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Aziz had a long career relationship with Steve Wynnwhere he worked atWynns Mirage Resorts in 1998 to help open the Bellagio, then the most expensive U.S. hotel ever built. Singer previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. College admissions scandal: First parents to be found guilty - CNN basketball team. [2][6][12] In that position he helped finalize 27 hotel projects in leisure markets around the world. College admissions scandal: Gamal Abdelaziz, John Wilson convicted John Wilson, center, holds his wife's hand, right, as he departs federal court, in Boston, on Sept. 13. He is awaitingsentencing for his role in the scam, which laid bare the stunning level of corruption in the US higher education system. U.S. District Judge Nathanial Gorton last week denied Abdelazizs motions for an acquittal or a new trial. Others such as Ms. Huffman and Ms. Loughlin chose to plead guilty rather than take their chances before a jury. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Michael Bastedo, a professor of education at the University of Michigan, said that, since the charges were first brought in 2019, many colleges have tried to clean up their practices around athletic recruitment, creating greater accountability and ensuring that athletic officials dont have unchecked power over admissions. Nate Raymond reports on the federal judiciary and litigation. Isackson and his wife, Davina, pleaded guilty in 2019 to charges that they worked with Singer to get their daughters into the University of California, Los Angeles, and USC as athletic recruits. Azizs daughter was accepted to USC, is attending USC and is not part of the USC basketball program. Meanwhile, Abdelaziz was accused of paying $300,000 to designate his daughter as a USC basketball team recruit in order to get her admitted to the university. The sentence for the former executive, Gamal Abdelaziz, 64, of Las Vegas, was the longest yet in the continuing federal prosecution of parents, coaches and others involved in a college admissions bribery scheme. In one recording played on Friday for the jury, Singer tells Wilson that hes going to do more than 730 of these side-door deals at 50 or 60 schools., In another recording, Wilson asks, Is there any way to make those (payments) tax-deductible, as like, donations to a school?. Market data provided by Factset. Abdelaziz, of Las Vegas, is accused of paying $300,000 to the sham. Later, in 2018, Wilson worked with the college fixer to get his twin daughters into Harvard and Stanford universities as sailing or crew recruits, although he acknowledged to Singer that his girls would not actually have to participate, prosecutors and court papers claim. But he said that other advantages enjoyed by wealthy students including preferences for donors and children of alumni are still in place, and the public could be forgiven for seeing the admissions system as still fundamentally unfair. Lawyers for the pair have painted their clients as victims of a con man: the admissions consultant at the center of the scheme Rick Singer who never took the stand. Parent Sentenced in College Admissions Case - United States Department Abdelaziz, a former Wynn Resorts executive, is accused of paying Singer $300,000 in 2018 to have his daughter admitted to USC as a fake basketball recruit, even though she didn't make her high . At this stage, we intend to appeal and vindicate Mr. Abdelaziz through the appellate process, he said. 2 Las Vegas parents face new charges in college admissions scam "But the verdict today proves that even these defendants, powerful and privileged people, are not above the law.". applicants. . Mr. Gamal Abdelaziz, a gaming executive who worked for Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts International, has been sentenced to one year in prison for paying $300,000 in bribes to get his daughter into.