The mastermind behind the college admissions bribery scheme faked students' ethnicity to get them an affirmative action advantage, reports show.
Rick Singer, 58, pleaded guilty in Boston federal court on Tuesday to running the largest college admissions fraud scam in U.S. history through his small college preparation company in Newport Beach.
Over the course of seven years, Singer is estimated to have taken a whopping $25million from wealthy parents to get their kids into elite schools by cheating and bribery.
And it has since been revealed the 'slick talker' could also fake their children's race.
Assistant US Attorney Eric S. Rosen told Judge Rya Zobel he was guilty of 'lying about students' ethnicities and other biographical information in an attempt to take advantage of perceived benefits from affirmative action and other programs'.
William 'Rick' Singer is facing 65 years in prison for taking $25million in bribes to get wealthy families' children into top schools
He is said to have faked students' ethnicity to get them an affirmative action advantage
Some 50 people including prominent executives, Hollywood actors and college coaches have been charged for roles in the scheme which saw phony test-takers secure clients' children spots at elite universities including Yale, Georgetown and Stanford.
Hollywood actress Lori Loughlin was dropped by the company that owns the Hallmark cable channel and LVMH's Sephora beauty chain ended a sponsorship deal with her daughter, Olivia, as a result of the charge. Loughlin's husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, has also been charged.
Desperate Housewives actor Felicity Huffman was also charged in the scheme. The 56-year-old Desperate Housewives actress deleted her social media accounts on Friday, and pulled down her parenting website, What The Flicka.
Both mastermind Singer and the parents alleged to have paid into the scheme could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
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