Better be a diminished capacity defense formation because I was ignorant of the law is no excuse. BTW does someone launder money and do tax evasion to conduct a legitimate transaction? NO!
Perhaps their lawyers intend a defense based on the academic institutions knowing of and tolerating the misconduct, which appears to have been the case. Who knows, but a jury may sympathize with an actress in tears instead of con men, coaches, and oily academic bureaucrats.