First parents go on trial in US college admissions scandal

The first trial is set to get under way in the Varisty Blues sting, which has seen dozens of wealthy parents plead guilty and has exposed the tawdry underbelly of the US college admissions process.

The “Varsity Blues” sting exploded into public view in 2019, with dozens of parents across the U.S. arrested for allegedly paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to get their kids into elite universities. Now, the first parents go on trial in Boston, accused of taking part in the scandal that revealed a tawdry underbelly of the U.S. college admissions process in which “donations” lined the pockets of middlemen and faked athletic prowess or altered test scores opened doors for the children of the wealthy to attend the school of their choice. Jury selection is set to begin Wednesday for the case against John B. Wilson, 62, a private equity investor, and Gamal Abdelaziz, 64, a former executive for Wynn Resorts Ltd. Both have pleaded not guilty, and are among a select few who have elected to fight their case in court. Thirty-three other parents accused of taking part in the scandal have pleaded guilty, serving sentences that range from two weeks to nine months in jail. Four more parents are scheduled to go on trial next year.