Posted on 03/15/2019 10:12:49 AM PDT by billorites
BOSTON—He was a test-taking whiz who could get any score on demand, federal prosecutors say, and the secret weapon in the college-admissions cheating scandal.
Mark Riddell, a 36-year-old Harvard University graduate, used his uncanny ability to boost scores fraudulently on college-entrance exams for teens of wealthy families participating in the scheme, according to federal filings.
“He did not have inside information about the correct answers,” the U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts, Andrew Lelling, said after announcing Tuesday’s federal charges. “He was just smart enough to get a near-perfect score.”
Prosecutors say Mr. Riddell, who lives outside Tampa, Fla., was central to the cheating scheme. He has agreed to plead guilty to mail fraud and a money-laundering-related charge, according to court documents, and is scheduled to appear in court in Boston in April.
After the charges, Mr. Riddell issued a statement apologizing for the damage and grief he caused. “I understand how my actions contributed to a loss of trust in the college admissions process,” he said.
Prosecutors said William Rick Singer’s testing scheme took place at least 30 times back as far as 2011. Of the 33 parents who were charged Tuesday, at least 16 are linked in court documents to Mr. Riddell, who was referred to as “Cooperating Witness 2.”
He has been helping with the investigation since February in hopes of leniency, federal filings say.
In one case, a test had to be scheduled at a later date because Mr. Riddell had a baby, according to the filings. Another time, Mr. Riddell used false identification to pose as a student. And after a Los Angeles teen had tonsillitis and couldn’t meet Mr. Riddell at the Houston test site—where the plan was for Mr. Riddell to fix the teen’s test answers afterward—Mr.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
Very true. It helps to have a strong educational background. But, with enough practice, you can score high on the test, especially in the math section. This guy probably has fun with the test, the same way many other people enjoy filling in crossword puzzles or solving logic problems.
He might be really good at taking tests but taking this kind of risk for only 10k was very very stupid. I’m not endorsing it, but could have made more money selling drugs with less risk.
The paper trail is probably fairly straight forward.
Notice all o them RICH, WHITE, CHRISTIAN, RE-PUBLICANS a-bein mentioned in this ed-u-cational scandal??
Huh? (crickets...)
............................hel-looo.................?
............................anybody?
Obama was born in Hawaii. Only retards think he was born in Kenya.
“So, in The United States Of America, under President Donald Trump, federal law enforcement investigates and prosecutes rich white people.”
Good. They cheated and committed mail, wire, and tax fraud. Throw the fricking book at them.
L
How does this guy possibly pass for a 17 year old?
Pay off the proctor and he could pass for 12.
Everyone understands, I hope, that grades given at Harvard and similar schools are inflated to assure that Harvard puts out “highly rated” graduates.
IF MR RIDDLE HAD A BABY——that would be a real headline.
I guess I missed my (illicit) calling. I took the
SAT and ACT cold turkey (zero preparation beyond having once taken the PSAT) and on short sleep: top half of top one percent - back before they simplified the SAT on analogies and such.
I actually qualified to tutor with Kaplan when I returned to school after being laid off, but Kaplan wanted to send me all over the map for special private tutoring, and I did not want to spend so much time and gas on a bill-paying part-time job.
Yes, worked like a champ. I’ll remember that one.
I graduated that same year, no way I could pass for someone half my age
I see what you mean... Just came across the following discussion from 10 years ago.
Just wow:
https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/223329-failed-classes.html
At $10K a pop?
Say he only does 3 or 4 tests a month.
That’s pretty good money.
This idiot goes to prison - yet Hillary doesn't?
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