12-22-2022, 12:42 PM
Not Varsity Blues, but similar.
Yesterday, a Boston jury rejected charges that Harvard's frmer fencing coach accepted bribes to recruit a Maryland businessman's son to Harvard. Jury found that former coach Peter Brand and iTalk Global Comm's CEO Jie Zhao were not guilty of conspiring in a fraud and bribery scheme.
This followed an acquittal of a parent who allegedly bribed his daughter's way into Georgetown.
Govt claimed Zhao bribed Brand with $100k to get his son a slot on the Harvard fencing team, funneling the $100k through a foundation run by the athlete's fencing instructor, who testified under an immunity deal. Zhao/Brand's lawyers argued that Ryjik was an admitted liar who stole from his own foundation and pocketed federal pandemic aid funds instead of paying his employees. Defense also argued that the athletes were nationally ranked fencers, who warranted the spots. Prosecution argued that the sons' skills didn't matter in light of the alleged bribes.
Defense also argued that the agreements were done out in the open, well-documented, and in their own names, and that no one engaged in an actual bribe scheme would have done it that way.
Later, Zhao paid a steep premium to purchase Brand's home, then paid off a mountain of Brand's personal debts, and bankrolled the renovation of his condo in Cambridge.
Jury deliberated for six hours. Zhao represented by spare-no-expense Quinn Emanuel.
Yesterday, a Boston jury rejected charges that Harvard's frmer fencing coach accepted bribes to recruit a Maryland businessman's son to Harvard. Jury found that former coach Peter Brand and iTalk Global Comm's CEO Jie Zhao were not guilty of conspiring in a fraud and bribery scheme.
This followed an acquittal of a parent who allegedly bribed his daughter's way into Georgetown.
Govt claimed Zhao bribed Brand with $100k to get his son a slot on the Harvard fencing team, funneling the $100k through a foundation run by the athlete's fencing instructor, who testified under an immunity deal. Zhao/Brand's lawyers argued that Ryjik was an admitted liar who stole from his own foundation and pocketed federal pandemic aid funds instead of paying his employees. Defense also argued that the athletes were nationally ranked fencers, who warranted the spots. Prosecution argued that the sons' skills didn't matter in light of the alleged bribes.
Defense also argued that the agreements were done out in the open, well-documented, and in their own names, and that no one engaged in an actual bribe scheme would have done it that way.
Later, Zhao paid a steep premium to purchase Brand's home, then paid off a mountain of Brand's personal debts, and bankrolled the renovation of his condo in Cambridge.
Jury deliberated for six hours. Zhao represented by spare-no-expense Quinn Emanuel.
Audaces fortuna iuvat