USA v. Brand et al

  1. December 22, 2022

    Fencers' Creds Foiled Harvard Bribe Case, Attys Say

    Prosecutors who indicted a former Harvard coach, alleging admissions fraud, chased a trial win of the type brought home in earlier "Varsity Blues" cases but came up short when they couldn't overcome strong testimony from the qualified fencing recruits, outside lawyers told Law360.

  2. December 21, 2022

    Jury Rejects Harvard Bribe Case That Echoed 'Varsity Blues'

    A Boston jury on Wednesday rejected charges that Harvard's former fencing coach accepted bribes to recruit a Maryland businessman's sons to the elite Ivy League institution, handing federal prosecutors another setback in their high-profile crackdown on admissions fraud.

  3. December 20, 2022

    Harvard Bribe Trial Closes With Focus On Gov't Witness

    A lawyer for Harvard's former fencing coach argued Tuesday that the admissions bribery case against his client was a "sinking ship of reasonable doubt" built on what he called noncredible testimony from the alleged middleman, while the prosecution said the pair's black-and-white texts and emails were enough to convict.

  4. December 19, 2022

    Harvard Bribe Suspects Rest After Recruits Tout Ivy Creds

    A former Harvard coach and a Maryland businessman facing admissions fraud charges rested their defense cases Monday after the two students allegedly admitted through an illicit bribery scheme testified that they had the top-tier academic and athletic credentials to earn a spot at the Ivy League school.

  5. December 16, 2022

    Harvard Bribe Middleman Sought $1M 'Bonus,' Jury Told

    A fencing instructor who acted as a middleman in an alleged bribery scheme to get two pupils into Harvard University threatened to spike the kids' applications if their parents failed to pay $1 million, according to testimony Friday in Boston federal court.

  6. December 15, 2022

    Ex-Harvard Coach's Alleged Bribe Was Loan, Wife Tells Jury

    The wife of a former Harvard fencing coach accused of swapping bribes for recruiting slots told a Boston jury Thursday that the stream of payments at the center of the case were loans that were repaid in full with interest.

  7. December 13, 2022

    Harvard Fencers Had Game, Jury Told In Bribery Trial

    The sons of a businessman accused of bribing Harvard University's fencing coach into recruiting his kids had legitimate ability in the sport and were committed and skilled members of the Crimson squad, a former teammate told a Boston jury Tuesday.

  8. December 09, 2022

    Harvard Coach 'Clinched' Fencers' Admission, Jury Hears

    A Harvard University fencing coach's support was the "clincher" in the admissions process for two team recruits whose father is accused of paying the coach $1.5 million in bribes, a Massachusetts federal jury heard Friday.

  9. December 07, 2022

    Harvard Bribe Middleman Didn't Take A Cut, Jury Hears

    A fencing instructor who prosecutors say acted as the middleman in a bribery scheme between a Harvard University coach and a wealthy businessman was not paid for his illegal services, a Boston jury heard Wednesday as defense lawyers sought to attack his credibility.

  10. December 06, 2022

    Ex-Harvard Coach Eyed $7.5M In Fencing Scheme, Jury Hears

    A former Harvard University fencing coach demanded a windfall $7.5 million payment after recruiting the son of a wealthy businessman to the Ivy League school, a Boston federal jury heard on the first full day of testimony Tuesday in the admissions bribery trial.