B.C.’s David Sidoo out of jail after U.S. college admissions scandal
Posted December 18, 2020 10:52 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Vancouver businessman David Sidoo has wrapped up his jail sentence related to the U.S. college admissions scandal.
The former CFL player was released from a detention centre in the Seattle area Thursday after serving 90 days.
The now-61-year-old pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in a U.S. federal court in March.
He paid the admissions consultant at the centre of the scheme $200,000 to have someone pose as his sons using a fake ID to secure higher scores on their SATs, prosecutors said.
Sidoo was among 50 prominent parents, university athletic coaches, and others charged in the scheme, which authorities said involved rigged entrance exams and bogus athletic credentials to make applicants look like star athletes for sports they didn’t play. FBI called the scheme “Varsity Blues.”
Sidoo’s Order of B.C. membership was cancelled in June. Upon his request, his name was also removed from the football field at UBC’s Thunderbird Stadium.
Besides time served, Sidoo’s plea deal called for him to pay a $250,000 fine, to be approved by the judge.
Nearly two dozen parents, including “Desperate Housewives” star Felicity Huffman, as well as “Full House” actress Lori Loughlin and her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, also pleaded guilty.
