Former University Soccer Coach Pleads Guilty in College Admissions Case
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/former-university-soccer-coach-pleads-guilty-college-admissions-case
Department of Justice
U.S. Attorneys Office
District of Massachusetts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Former University Soccer Coach Pleads Guilty in College Admissions Case
BOSTON The former assistant coach of womens soccer at the University of Southern California (USC) pleaded guilty today in connection with her involvement in a scheme to use bribery and other forms of fraud to facilitate the admission of applicants to selective colleges and universities. Laura Janke, 36, of North Hollywood, Calif., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Oct. 17, 2019 at 2:30 pm. Janke is cooperating with the governments investigation.
As set forth in the charging documents, Janke conspired with Rick Singer and others to fabricate athletic profiles and other documents to bolster students college applications by making them appear to be highly successful high school athletes when in fact they were not. In exchange, Singer made direct payments to a private soccer club controlled by Janke and another defendant.
Case information, including the status of each defendant, charging documents and plea agreements are available here:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.
The charge of racketeering conspiracy provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, and restitution. Pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence at the low end of the Guidelines range, one year of supervised release, a fine, restitution, and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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