Two Defendants in College Admissions Case Plead Guilty

BOSTON – A university athletic coach and a former accountant pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with the college admissions case.

Ali Khosroshahin, 49, of Fountain Valley, Calif., a former head coach of women’s soccer at the University of Southern California, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Oct. 25, 2019. According to the terms of the plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence at the low end of the federal Sentencing Guidelines, one year of supervised release, a fine, restitution and forfeiture. Khosroshahin is cooperating with the government’s investigation.

Steven Masera, 69, of Folsom, Calif., a former accountant and financial officer for the Edge College & Career Network and the Key Worldwide Foundation, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering. Judge Talwani scheduled sentencing for Oct. 22, 2019. According to the terms of the plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence at the low end of the federal Sentencing Guidelines, one year of supervised release, a fine, restitution and forfeiture. Masera is also cooperating with the government’s investigation.  

Case information, including the status of each defendant, charging documents and plea agreements are available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.

The charge of racketeering conspiracy provides for a sentence of no greater than 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. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. 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 and Carol Head of Lelling’s Asset Recovery Unit are prosecuting the cases.

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