Jorge Salcedo, Racketeering Conspiracy, Massachusetts 2024
BOSTON – In a shocking turn of events, Jorge Salcedo, the former men’s soccer coach at the University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA), has agreed to plead guilty in connection with his involvement in a scheme to use bribery and fraud to facilitate the admission of applicants to UCLA.
Salcedo, 47, of Los Angeles, Calif., will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering, a charge that carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, and restitution.
According to the terms of the plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence at the low end of the sentencing guidelines, one year of supervised release, a fine, forfeiture in the amount of $200,000 and restitution. Salcedo will also pay $100,000 of the $250,000 that the Isacksons paid Singer.
In 2016, Salcedo agreed with William “Rick” Singer, Ali Khosroshahin – a former head coach of women’s soccer at the University of Southern California – and others to facilitate the admission of the daughter of Davina and Bruce Isackson to UCLA as a purported women’s soccer recruit.
In 2018, Salcedo agreed with Singer and Khosroshahin to “recruit” the son of Xiaoning Sui, another client of Singer’s, to the UCLA men’s soccer team. Sui’s son did not play soccer competitively. In exchange for the recruitment, Salcedo accepted a $100,000 bribe from Singer. Sui paid Singer $400,000.
Singer, Khosroshahin, Davina and Bruce Isackson, and Sui have all pleaded guilty for their roles in the offense. The case is a stark reminder of the corrupting influence of wealth and privilege in our society.
Salcedo will be sentenced at a later date, and the outcome of that hearing will determine the final sentence he faces. The charge of racketeering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, and restitution.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen, Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie A. Wright, and Kristen A. Kearney of Lelling’s Securities and Financial Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
The investigation is ongoing, and it is unclear what other defendants may be implicated in the scheme. One thing is certain, however: the college admissions scandal has shaken the very foundations of our society, and it will be a long time before we are able to fully recover from the damage that has been done.
Defendant: Jorge Salcedo
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering
City and State: Los Angeles, CA
Date: 2024
Sentence: Up to 20 years in prison, fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, and restitution
Dollar Amounts: $200,000 forfeiture, $100,000 bribe, $400,000 paid to Singer
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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