Appeals Court Overturns Two Varsity Blues Convictions in College Admissions Scandal

A federal appeals court overturned the fraud and conspiracy convictions of two parents found guilty of participating in the Operation Varsity Blues bribery scheme, which ensnared dozens of wealthy parents who falsified their children’s credentials to gain admission to prestigious universities. The court found that the lower court had made crucial missteps in the trial of Gamal Abdelaziz and John Wilson, but upheld Wilson's conviction on tax fraud. The victory in the appellate court was striking because Wilson and Abdelaziz were the first to take their chances in front of a jury.