USC fires top athletic officials involved in college admissions scandal

The University of Southern California has fired three top athletic officials because of their involvement in the college admissions scandal, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Senior associate athletic director Steve Lopes, who’s also the CFO and COO, was fired on Jan. 14. Athletic directors Ron Orr, who led the Trojan Athletic Fund, and Scott Jacobson also were fired.

Other officials fired by USC include senior athletic official Donna Heinel, who was indicted by the federal government for “racketeering conspiracy,” according to court documents. USC fired water polo coach Jovan Vavic, women’s soccer coach Ali Khosroshahin and assistant coach Laura Janke, who were also charged in the indictment, according to The Orange County Register.

The college admissions scandal, known as “Varsity Blues,” will go to trial later this year, according to the Boston Herald.

Actress Lori Loughlin and husband Mossimo Giannulli are charged with “conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, honest services fraud, money laundering and federal programs bribery,” according to USA Today. They declined a plea deal previously offered to them.

The case has seen 55 people charged, including 36 parents and college coaches. Thirty have pleaded guilty and 23 are preparing for trial, USA Today reported.

The parents and coaches are accused of conspiring with William Rick Singer, who ran The Key, a college admissions prep company. Singer pleaded guilty to “racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud the U.S., and obstruction of justice” in March 2019 and faces up to 65 years in prison, according to CNBC.

This story was originally published January 14, 2020 at 2:20 PM.