More charges announced against Surrey mom in U.S. college admissions scandal
Credit to Author: Stephanie Ip| Date: Tue, 24 Sep 2019 20:00:31 +0000
Additional charges of international money laundering have been announced against a Surrey mom in the U.S. college admissions scandal.
Xiaoning Sui, a 48-year-old Surrey woman, remains in custody in Spain after being arrested in connection with the high-profile case.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Sui was now charged with an expanded conspiracy charge, two counts of money laundering, three counts of wire fraud and honest-services wire fraud.
Extradition proceedings are underway to bring Sui to Boston to answer the charges.
In 2008, Sui allegedly paid the first instalment of what would later total USD$400,000 to William (Rick) Singer, a Newport Beach, Calif., college consultant, who then paid a bribe to Jorge Salcedo, head of the UCLA men’s soccer program.
A fraudulent profile using photos of Sui’s son was created and suggested Sui’s son had played for two top private soccer clubs in Canada, despite not being a soccer player. Sui’s son was admitted to UCLA as a soccer recruit and offered a scholarship.
The money allegedly paid by Sui was deposited into a Massachusetts bank account linked to a charitable foundation headed by Singer.
None of the charges against Sui have been proven in court, while Singer pleaded guilty to charges of racketeering, money laundering, fraud and obstruction, and Salcedo pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy.
In March, Vancouver businessman and former CFL player David Sidoo was charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with the far-reaching FBI investigation. Sidoo is accused of making two separate US$100,000 payments to have others take college entrance exams in place of his two sons.
Other high-profile parents charged in the case include Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin. Huffman pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 14 days in jail, beginning Oct. 25, one year of probation, a US$30,000 fine and community service, while Loughlin rejected a plea deal last spring and pleaded not guilty.