A professor at the University of Southern California pleaded guilty for a charge in connection with the 2019 college admissions scandal.
Homayoun Zadeh, a 59-year-old associate professor of dentistry, pleaded guilty on Friday before a Boston federal court judge to one count of filing a false tax return.
Zadeh wanted to secure a spot for his daughter at the prestigious University of Southern California. He was accused of paying $100,000 to falsify records claiming his daughter was a lacrosse recruit, even though she did not play the sport.
The professor was one of 50 parents involved in the college bribery scheme, including actress Lori Laughlin, orchestrated by admissions consultant Rick Singer. The case, which was dubbed "Operation Varsity Blues," involved rigging test scores and paying off sports coaches to ensure admission at top universities across the nation, prosecutors say.
Singer allegedly abused connections he had from his status as a college admissions advisor to manipulate the admissions process.
Prosecutors say Zadeh used the ‘donations’ he made to Singer for a tax break, claiming they were for a charitable foundation.
Zadeh’s plea deal will require the professor to spend six weeks behind bars, perform 250 hours of community service and pay a $20,000 fine. In return, prosecutors will dismiss the charges of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery and money laundering conspiracy.
U.S. District Judge Nathanial Gorton has yet to approve the plea.
Zadeh is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 10.