The several dozen parents who were involved in the Operation Varsity Blues controversy, with one notable exception, appear to have left that turbulent time in their lives. The majority of people have remained silent about a trial that, for some, resulted in jail sentences and public outcry for standardized test cheating, false athletic credentials, and other illegitimate efforts to get their children accepted into prestigious universities.
John B. Wilson is the exception.
Wilson beat the government last year when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit overturned his conviction despite being one of the few parents to take his prospects in court more than negotiate a plea bargain. His actions, according to the appellate court, did n’t constitute crime. Next month, a Massachusetts determine advanced Wilson’s defamation case against Netflix over his description in the movie Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal’s.

A former chairman of Staples International, Wilson is then going after the school he says is responsible for him being “falsely accused” in the incident. Wilson’s status as the only Varsity Blues accused in Massachusetts, he claims, made it possible for Boston-based lawyers to use him as a “venue rope” in their case against Hollywood kids Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman in a Massachusetts federal district court.
Last Friday, Wilson and his family, Leslie Q. Wilson, sued the University of Southern California in a Los Angeles County better judge for fraud, dishonesty and deception. The couple seeks more than$ 75 million in damages, reflecting their attorneys ‘ fees to defend themselves from criminal conduct, lost income, lost future earnings and other alleged harms.
Johnny Wilson, a USC graduate who was a redshirt freshman playing water polo for the Trojans after joining his high school’s varsity team, is a part of the Sisters ‘ relationship with USC. The Sisters ‘ problem describes their child as experienced and successful in water polo, noting that he made an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2005 after breaking the record for the youngest man to swim from Alcatraz Island to the sea of San Francisco. Additionally, Johnny Wilson was chosen half for the U.S. Olympic team development program and participated in national water polo groups, as well as national young Olympic competitions. Additionally, he scored in the 93rd score on his ACT and earned a 3.8/4.0 GPA in great school. Unlike other children of Varsity Blues parents, Johnny Wilson was n’t a fake athlete, and he was, by all accounts, an accomplished student.
In line with that claim, John B. Wilson was n’t accused of doing anything of the kind while some of the scandal’s parents bribed proctors to boost their children’s test scores and feigned their kids ‘ learning disabilities to get extra test-taking time. His error was hiring now-disgraced admissions expert Rick Singer to professor his son and offer guidance on school options.

The Sisters contend that USC” concealed material information” when the university “induced” them into donating$ 100, 000 to the USC Athletic Fund in 2014 to support the school reach its$ 6 billion funding purpose. The payment was made through Singer’s firm. The Wilsons claim that USC gave them a ticket and thank-you letter for their donation to the athletics program, along with the copy of the head water sport coach. The Wilsons insist this method was open, clear and reasonable.
The couple donated a split$ 100, 000 to Singer’s IRS-certified foundation” to help compensate for USC’s team travel to Europe” and an extra$ 20, 000 to Singer” to assist reimburse him for the administrative costs for his previously formed charity related to booking the team’s future travel to Europe,” according to attorney William Charles Tanenbaum’s complaint.
The Wilsons contend they believed they had donated$ 220, 000 to USC, but say Singer embezzled$ 120, 000. Singer admitted guilt to charges including conspiracy to commit money laundering in federal court.
The couple acknowledges that USC provided them with financial support in part because they knew it would increase their son’s admissions chances. Parents donating money to universities to up their kids ‘ odds for admission is, of course, not illegal. In fact, universities frequently celebrate large donations, and it has been revealed that some institutions use admissions policies that favor the wealthy.
The Wilsons contend that USC never made the$ 100, 000 donation aware that it might have been illegal or illegal, despite the fact that ( the Wilsons contend ) USC never made it known that it might have been. They insist they knew of other parents, including those not connected to Singer, who donated to the school with the understanding it would help their children’s chances. Years later, the Wilsons claim they learned that USC regarded these donations as illegal bribes. The government’s portrayal of schools as the parents ‘ victims was a central factor in the Varsity Blues parents ‘ prosecutions.
To bolster their argument that their donation was legitimate, the Wilsons insist USC” shamelessly retained the donation, exposing a disturbing pattern of deceit and exploitation”. The complaint further states that Johnny Wilson was not a member of the 2014 team because he participated in team activities, suffered a concussion that was treated by the school’s medical staff, and was registered as an athlete with the NCAA in 2021.
The complaint will be resolved and the USC’s attorneys will challenge the dismissal. The university will refute allegations of wrongdoing and will likely raise additional allegations that raise questions of those made by the Wilsons.
In a statement shared with Sportico, the university disputed the Wilsons ‘ allegations.
” This lawsuit, which dredges up events that occurred as many as 10 years ago, has no legal merit”, USC said. ” After Mr. Wilson was criminally charged back in 2019, USC made a number of significant changes to prevent abuse of the athletics admission process, including a three-level review of every student-athlete candidate’s admission file, head coach certifications, attestations from all undergraduate applicants, and annual internal audits”.