The former executive of Wynn Resorts, Gamal Abdelaziz, was among the numerous people implicated in the large-scale Varsity Blues scandal that gripped media attention some years back. Accusations directed at him sugested a payment of $300,000 to get his daughter admission to a prominent US university despite her not fulfilling the requisite athletic criteria.
In a recent turn of events, every single charge leveled against Abdelaziz by the federal law enforcement agencies were dismissed. The filing of Wednesday with the US District Court in Boston witnessed federal prosecutors affirm all the charges previously stacked against Abdelaziz and John Wilson, another parent embroiled in the notorious “Varsity Blues” scandal, were nullified. This latest development ensued only after an appeal last month succeeded in reversing Abdelaziz’s previous sentence.
Overturning Of Conviction Took Place Last Month
Abdelaziz had earlier been handed a sentence of a year in prison by Boston’s US District Judge Nathaniel Gordon, coupled with a severe fine of $250,000 and a compulsory 400-hour community service. The distinct trait in Abdelaziz’s case was that unlike other defendants who admitted guilt, Abdelaziz vigorously contested his conviction and sought a nullification of all charges.
Brian Kelly, Abdelaziz’s legal representative, stated in an earlier conversation: “From day one Mr Abdelaziz has staunchly stood his ground asserting his complete innocence and he is overwhelmed with gratitude that the appellate court decided to set aside his unjust conviction.” Abdelaziz had previously maintained that he had been prey to deception and had no inkling that his “contributions” would be used to illicitly grease the palms of university authorities. Given the recent overturning on appeal and the nullified charges, other persons implicated in the Varsity Blues scandal who are still in legal entanglements might also find respite.
Despite this, the latest move to clear the charges poses potential issues for the rest of the scandal’s guilty-pleading participants. The multitude of legal complications inevitably turned the spotlight on affluent parents and their ability to unconventionally employ contributions to secure admission for their children in top-tier universities without meeting mandatory educational standards or qualifications.
Importantly, the Varsity Blues scandal also ignited transformations within the US college admissions system. USC, the university that granted admission to Abdelaziz’s daughter, modified its admissions protocol by forming a novel admissions panel. Comparable amendments have been initiated at other equally prestigious institutions.
