[gocard14]

Philosophically, they were correct that other parents are buying their children's way into college. But representing the children as athletes when they are not seems fraudulent to me. They should have started donating large sums every year several years prior to their children's application process. That's how it's done at Stanford. Stanford doesn't really deny it either.

Not a lawyer, but I don’t see how lying on your application to a college consitutes criminal fraud. 

Certainly grounds for expulsion, losing a degree, or even a civil suit from the affected university if they felt the need to pursue it, but how does it become criminal?

[gocard14]

Philosophically, they were correct that other parents are buying their children's way into college. But representing the children as athletes when they are not seems fraudulent to me. They should have started donating large sums every year several years prior to their children's application process. That's how it's done at Stanford. Stanford doesn't really deny it either.

Not a lawyer, but I don’t see how lying on your application to a college consitutes criminal fraud. 

Certainly grounds for expulsion, losing a degree, or even a civil suit from the affected university if they felt the need to pursue it, but how does it become criminal?