2 Parents Plead Guilty To College Admissions Scam

BOSTON — Two parents charged in the sweeping college admissions scandal case pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to paying some $600,000 to help their daughters get into college. The duo is cooperating with the government's investigation, which is ongoing, according to the Department of Justice.

Bruce Isackson, 62, and Davina Isackson, 55, of Hillsborough, California, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. Bruce Isackson also pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to defraud the IRS.

After 33 wealthy parents were charged and arrested in March in what officials have dubbed the biggest such case ever prosecuted by the Justice Department, the Isacksons have said they take full responsibility for their “bad judgement” in which they paid $600,000 in shares of stock to admissions consultant Rick Singer to get their daughters into USC and the University of California Los Angeles.

Singer pleaded guilty earlier to being the key behind the cheating scam that had college coaches and other insiders taking bribes to get children into schools.

The Isacksons also underpaid their federal income taxes by deducting the bribe payments as purported charitable contributions.

The charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or more. The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the money laundering. The charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States provides for a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

So far four defendants have signed cooperation agreements with prosecutors and Singer, a former Yale University coach and a man who cheated on entrance exams for students, are also working with investigators, the Associated Press reported.

More than a dozen others, including “Desperate Housewives” actress Felicity Huffman, have agreed to plead guilty. Huffman is scheduled to appear in Boston federal court May 13 to admit to charges she paid $15,000 to have someone rig her daughter’s SAT score.

“Full House” actress Lori Loughlin and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, who is a fashion designer are among 19 parents disputing the allegations.

The Isacksons are slated to return to court on July 31.

College Admission Scandal Coverage on Patch:

• 2 More Pleading Guilty In College Admissions Scandal
• Lori Loughlin Pleads Not Guilty In Admissions Bribery Case
• Federal Jury Indicts Lori Loughlin In College Admissions
• Desperate Housewives' Felicity Huffman, 13 Others To Plead Guilty In College Admissions Scam

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).