John Wilson, Filing a False Tax Return, Massachusetts 2024

BOSTON — John Wilson, a 59-year-old resident of Lynnfield, Massachusetts, has been charged with filing a false tax return in connection with the college admissions case. According to a federal grand jury, Wilson paid a total of $220,000 to secure his son’s admission to the University of Southern California as a purported water polo recruit.

Wilson then deducted the $220,000 from his 2014 tax returns as charitable donations and business expenses. The charging document alleges that Wilson’s amended 2014 tax returns improperly deducted $220,000 in payments that he allegedly made in exchange for securing his son’s admission to the University of Southern California.

The charge of filing a false tax return provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Wilson, who resides in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, was indicted on one count of filing a false tax return. An arraignment date has not yet been scheduled.

The investigation into the college admissions case, which involves 15 parents, was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston. The Department of Education, Office of Inspector General provided assistance with the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen, Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie A. Wright, and Kristen A. Kearney of United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling’s Securities and Financial Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/parent-charged-college-admissions-case-indicted-additional-tax-fraud-charge