Stanford University's former sailing coach John Vandemoer was sentenced on Wednesday in Boston to one day in prison and six months of home confinement for his role in a college admissions scandal affecting some of the country's most prestigious institutions of higher learning.
Vandemoer was the first person to be sentenced in the nationwide college bribery scandal known as "Operation Varsity Blues."
He apologized to friends, family, the sailing team and Stanford at the hearing. US District Court Judge Rya Zobel ordered the ex-coach to two years of supervised release, including the house arrest, and required him pay a $10,000 fine.
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Vandemoer had admitted to accepting bribes in exchange for encouraging Stanford officials to accept two applicants into the university to join the sailing team, although neither was actually talented in the sport.
Prosecutors had sought a 13-month sentence, but Zobel opted for a lighter punishment. Although he pled guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering, he did not enrich himself, the New York Times reported. The money changing hands was to be funneled into Stanford's sailing program.
Vandemoer will avoid spending any time in prison as Zobel said that it was time already served.