Appeals Court Overturns Two Convictions in Varsity Blues Admissions Scandal

The convictions of two wealthy businessmen, Gamal Abdelaziz and John Wilson, in the "Operation Varsity Blues" college admissions scandal have been overturned by a federal appeals court. The court rejected prosecutors' claims that the fathers had knowingly conspired with other parents to buy their children's way into elite universities. The court ruled that the convictions were based on misapplications of the law, unsupported by the evidence presented at trial, or tainted by the introduction of evidence about other Singer clients whom Abdelaziz and Wilson had nothing to do with. The court also rejected prosecutors' claim that Abdelaziz and Wilson were guilty of property fraud. The ruling leaves open the possibility of Abdelaziz and Wilson being retried on a narrower set of criminal counts.