BOSTON — The college admissions bribery scheme that shook elite campuses nationwide claimed three more high-profile scalps today as wealthy parents copped to federal charges in a courtroom packed with media and onlookers. Jane Buckingham, 50, of Beverly Hills, Calif.; Robert Flaxman, 62, of Laguna Beach, Calif.; and Marjorie Klapper, 50, of Menlo Park, Calif., each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.
The scheme, orchestrated by shadowy fixer Rick Singer, turned the American dream into a transaction. Buckingham admitted she paid Singer $50,000 to rig her son’s college entrance exams. Flaxman admitted to paying $75,000 for the same scam—this time to boost his daughter’s scores. Klapper, though paying the smallest sum—$15,000—followed the same playbook, corrupting the test process for her son’s benefit. Each parent signed plea deals that expose the cold calculus behind their crimes.
U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencings for October—Klapper on Oct. 16, Flaxman on Oct. 18, and Buckingham on Oct. 23, 2019. The government has agreed to recommend sentences at the low end of the federal guidelines, but make no mistake: they’re still staring down federal prison time. Each faces one year of supervised release, hefty fines—$40,000 for Buckingham and Flaxman, $20,000 for Klapper—and must pay restitution and forfeiture.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars, three years of supervised release, and fines up to $250,000 or double the financial gain, whichever is greater. While the plea deals likely spare them the full wrath of the law, the message is clear: wealth buys many things, but not immunity from federal prosecutors.
U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, FBI Boston Chief Joseph R. Bonavolonta, and IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Kristina O’Connell announced the pleas. Prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen, Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie A. Wright, and Kristen A. Kearney—veterans of the Securities and Financial Fraud Unit who’ve made a name cracking white-collar rings.
The case documents, including charging sheets and plea agreements, remain publicly accessible via the Department of Justice’s dedicated portal. As for the remaining defendants in the sprawling investigation: they’re presumed innocent until proven guilty. But in the court of public opinion, the jig may already be up.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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