Gordon Ernst, Bribing to Facilitate Admission, Massachusetts 2024

BOSTON — In a shocking crime, a former Georgetown University tennis coach has admitted to taking bribes to help students cheat their way into the prestigious university. Gordon Ernst, 54, of Chevy Chase, Md. and Falmouth, Mass., has agreed to plead guilty to soliciting and accepting bribes to facilitate the admission of prospective Georgetown applicants.

According to the plea agreement, Ernst will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, three counts of federal programs bribery and one count of filing a false tax return. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled.

The brazen scheme involved Ernst soliciting and receiving bribe payments from William “Rick” Singer and prospective Georgetown applicants to facilitate their admission to Georgetown as student athletes. Ernst then failed to report a significant portion of those bribe payments on his federal income tax returns.

The charges carry steep penalties. Ernst faces a sentence of at least one year and up to four years in prison, two years of supervised release and forfeiture of $3,435,053. The charge of federal programs bribery provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.

Ernst’s scheme was uncovered by a joint investigation by the FBI, IRS and Department of Education. Acting U.S. Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell, FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Bonavolonta, IRS Special Agent in Charge Joleen D. Simpson and Department of Education Resident Agent in Charge Mark Deckett made the announcement today.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie A. Wright, Kristen A. Kearney and Kriss Basil of Mendell’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the lengths to which some will go to gain admission to a prestigious university. The public should be outraged by such blatant corruption.

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