Stephen Semprevivo, College Admissions Bribery, California 2023

Stephen Semprevivo, 53, of Los Angeles, Calif., admitted in federal court today to slipping $400,000 under the table to buy his son’s way into Georgetown University. The payoff was disguised as a recruitment scheme, falsely branding the boy as a tennis prodigy—when he barely swung a racket. Semprevivo pleaded guilty in Boston to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud, capping a federal dragnet that’s ensnared dozens in the elite college admissions scandal.

The transaction was routed through rigged athletic channels, with Semprevivo funneling cash to conspirators who bribed coaches and falsified athlete profiles. His son was accepted to Georgetown as a recruited tennis player despite no competitive record or ranking. The scheme exploited loopholes in university admissions, turning athletic departments into backdoors for the wealthy. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani set sentencing for Sept. 11, 2019.

Under the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend 18 months in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $95,000 fine. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars, three years supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000—or twice the financial gain, whichever is greater. The government argues the bribe distorted fair access to higher education and violated public trust in admissions integrity.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Bonavolonta, and IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Kristina O’Connell announced the plea. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen, Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie A. Wright, and Kristen A. Kearney from the Securities and Financial Fraud Unit—veterans in dismantling complex financial schemes.

Documents filed in the case lay bare the mechanics of privilege for sale: test scores fudged, athletic credentials forged, and university staff corrupted. Semprevivo’s payment wasn’t an outlier—it was part of a broader network of bribes orchestrated by middlemen who monetized desperation and entitlement. The DOJ’s ongoing investigation continues to unravel ties between wealth, influence, and institutional gatekeeping.

All remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Court records, charging documents, and plea agreements are publicly accessible through the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Massachusetts. This case is one of dozens tied to the nationwide college admissions bribery probe.

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