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New bribery charge filed against Elisabeth Kimmel, 10 other parents in college admissions case

The new charge alleges former KFMB owner Elisabeth Kimmel and the other parents conspired to commit federal program bribery.

SAN DIEGO — Former KFMB owner Elisabeth Kimmel and 10 other parents, including "Full House" actress Lori Loughlin, were indicted Tuesday on new federal charges as prosecutors pressure them to admit guilt in a college admissions bribery scheme.

A grand jury in Boston indicted the parents on charges of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery. The count accuses the parents of attempting to bribe officials at an organization that receives at least $10,000 in federal funding. They are accused of paying to get their children admitted to the University of Southern California. All 11 defendants have previously pleaded not guilty to other charges in the scheme.

The new charge alleges Kimmel and the other parents "conspired to commit federal program bribery by bribing employees of the University of Southern California to facilitate their children's admission," according to federal prosecutors. "In exchange for the bribes, employees of the university allegedly designated the defendants' children as athletic recruits – with little or no regard for their athletic abilities – or as members of other favored admissions categories."

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Kimmel is accused of paying nearly $500,000 to the Key Worldwide Foundation, which prosecutors say was a phony organization that passed payments on to coaches and athletic directors at elite universities. Kimmel allegedly paid $275,000 in 2013 to help her daughter get into Georgetown University as a purported tennis athlete and $200,000 in 2018 to help her son get into the University of Southern California as a purported pole vaulter. Neither of her children played those sports in college, according to prosecutors, who allege her son was confused when an advisor asked about his status as a track athlete.

The defendants, who were arrested in March 2019, were previously charged with conspiring with William “Rick” Singer and others to bribe SAT and ACT exam administrators to allow a test taker to secretly take college entrance exams in place of their children, or to correct the children’s answers after they had taken the exams.

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It's the second time prosecutors have added new charges for parents pleading not guilty in the case. In April, they added money laundering to the initial charges of fraud and conspiracy.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling in Boston said the latest charges stem from an ongoing investigation. The charges will further his goal of holding the defendants "fully accountable for corrupting the college admissions process through cheating, bribery and fraud," he said in a written statement.

Under the new charge, Kimmel faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and fines up to twice the amount of money laundered, if convicted. The previous charges each have maximum sentences of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and fines up to twice the amount of the money laundered.

Arraignment dates have not yet been scheduled. Case information, including the status of each defendant, charging documents and plea agreements can be found here.

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