A former UCLA men’s soccer coach pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering, according to a press release from the U.S. attorney’s office on Monday.
Jorge Salcedo became the sixth former collegiate coach to plead guilty in the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal, in which parents paid bribes to have their children admitted to elite U.S. universities as sports recruits despite their children having little to no athletic experience.
As part of the terms of the plea deal, the government will recommend that Salcedo receive a less severe prison sentence, a year of supervised release, a $200,000 fine and restitution, according to the press release.
Salcedo first agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering in April. He accepted $200,000 from ringleader William Singer to admit two students as soccer recruits between 2016 and 2018. Singer pleaded guilty in March 2019 to conspiracy to commit both racketeering and money laundering, among other charges.
Salcedo accepted $100,000 to admit Davina and Bruce Isackson’s daughter as a UCLA women’s soccer recruit in June 2016. The Isacksons pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud in April 2019. They were the first parents to plead guilty in the admissions scandal.
Salcedo also accepted $100,000 to admit Xiaoning Sui’s son as a soccer recruit. Sui was sentenced to a $250,000 fine in May.
Indira Talwana, a U.S. district judge, said she will decide whether to accept Salcedo’s plea after further review, according to the Los Angeles Times. Salcedo’s sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 24.
Those who plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges can be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or more and restitution, according to the press release.
