2 From Florida Named In Massive College Recruitment Scam

BRADENTON, FL -- A counselor at IMG Academy in Bradenton and the CEO of a private investment firm headquartered in Miami were among 50 people named in a massive college recruitment scam announced Tuesday that netted at least two prominent actresses, more than two dozen wealthy parents and 13 coaches from Hollywood to Florida and beyond.

"The FBI uncovered what we believe is a rigged system," declared Special Agent Joseph Bonavolonta of the FBI’s Boston Field Office in announcing the massive government takedown.

Fifty-two-year-old Robert Zangrillo of Miami and Mark Riddell of the IMG Academy were both accused by federal prosecutors of participating in the scam.

"The conspiracy involved ... bribing SAT and ACT exam administrators to allow a test taker, typically Riddell, to secretly take college entrance exams in place of students or to correct the students’ answers after they had taken the exam," federal prosecutors explained in the case of Riddell, who was allegedly paid $10,000 for each student test he took.

In addition to taking tests himself, he was also accused of giving students the correct answers during exams and correcting answers after tests had been completed.

Zangrillo is the founder, chairman and CEO of Miami-based Dragon Global, according to his corporate bio. He was one of the 33 parents named by prosecutors.

"His talents for providing significant financial returns for his investors and building teams dedicated to delivering leading industry solutions are widely known," Zangrillo's bio reads. "Over the last several years, Zangrillo has diversified into commercial real estate development in Miami where he has led investments in over 20-plus acres of projects in Wynwood, Little River and on the Miami River. He is also is the co-founder of the Magic City Innovation District."

IMG Academy, which began in 1978 as the Bollettieri Tennis Academy, claims to be the world's largest and most advanced multi-sport training and education institution.

"Today we were made aware of the charges against Mark Riddell," a spokesperson for the academy told Patch. "Riddell has been suspended indefinitely as we investigate this matter."

Past alumni and trainees have included world No. 1 tennis players and Grand Slam champions, No. 1 overall NFL draft picks, top NBA athletes, successful PGA Tour/LPGA players, and NCAA champions, according to the academy website.

Federal prosecutors in Boston described "Operation Varsity Blues" as the "largest ever" college recruitment scam prosecuted by the Department of Justice, a scheme that included the rich and famous allegedly trying to push their children into Ivy League schools for which they might not otherwise qualify and people who allegedly profited from the ruthless ambition of parents along the way.

Actresses Felicity Huffman, who played Lynette Scavo on "Desperate Housewives," and Lori Loughlin who played Aunt Becky on "Full House," were each accused along with two SAT and ACT administrators, one proctor and one college administrator.

Prosecutors said that many of the children whose parents were named in the scam were unaware of the allegedly fraudulent activity.

The case is being prosecuted by assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen, Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie Wright and Kristen A. Kearney of Lelling’s Securities and Financial Fraud Unit.

Click here to read more about the investigation.

Feroze Dhanoa of the Patch National Staff contributed to this report.