The plea changes come as federal prosecutors are expected to file additional charges against some defendants who pleaded not guilty in the case, a law enforcement official told CNN. The additional charges, which are said to include bribery, could be filed as early as Tuesday, according to the official.
Douglas Hodge, Manuel Henriquez, Elizabeth Henriquez and Michelle Janavs have each agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, prosecutors said. All four have plea hearings set for Monday.
More about those pleading guilty
The four parents expected to plead guilty on Monday all come from wealthy business backgrounds.
Hodge apologized in a statement released through his attorneys.
“I accept full and complete responsibility for my conduct. I have always prided myself on leading by example, and I am ashamed of the decisions I made,” he said. “I acted out of love for my children, but I know that this explanation for my actions is not an excuse. I also want to apologize to the deserving college students who may have been adversely impacted by this process.”
In addition, Hodge promised to “continue working hard through charitable endeavors aimed at providing educational opportunities to underprivileged students to begin to repair the harm my actions have caused.”
Manuel Henriquez, the former CEO and founder of Hercules Capital, and his wife Elizabeth Henriquez are accused of participating in the test-cheating aspect of the scheme four separate times for their two daughters. They also are accused of conspiring to bribe Georgetown’s tennis coach to get their daughter into the university as a tennis recruit.
Prosecutors have agreed to recommend a sentence on the low end of the sentencing guidelines, as well as 12 months supervised release, forfeiture totaling $462,961.23 and mandatory special assessment of $100 and restitution, according to court documents.
“Martin is a good man who deeply regrets getting into this,” said Fox’s attorneys, Michael J. Pineault and David Gerger, in a statement. “He takes full responsibility for his conduct.”
Some defendants insist on innocence
Despite the possibility of more charges, several attorneys told CNN their clients would not be changing their positions.
An attorney for Amy Colburn and Gregory Colburn, two parents charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud as well as money laundering conspiracy, said they won’t be changing their not guilty plea.
“Adding new charges at this time seems to be vindictive and intended to discourage our clients and others from exercising their constitutional right to a fair trial,” attorney Patric Hooper said.
“Nothing has changed,” attorney Stephen Larson said.
“My clients continue to rely on their constitutional right to a trial and will not be bullied into a plea on the threat of additional charges for exactly the same conduct,” attorney Tracy Miner said.
CNN’s Ralph Ellis, Josh Girsky, Sarah Jorgensen, Elizabeth Joseph and Mark Morales contributed to this report.
Source : CNN