BOSTON (AP) – A prominent Miami developer and investor who was among a slew of wealthy parents charged with paying hefty bribes to get their children into elite universities was pardoned early Wednesday by President Donald Trump.
Robert Zangrillo was arrested in March 2019 in a college admissions bribery scheme that ensnared TV stars, businesspeople and athletic coaches across the U.S.
Federal prosecutors in Boston accused him of paying $250,000 to get his daughter into the University of Southern California as a transfer in 2018.
The White House said in a statement explaining its decision that Zangrillo’s daughter “did not have others take standardized tests for her and she is currently earning a 3.9 GPA” at USC. The White House described him as a “well-respected business leader and philanthropist.”
A lawyer for Zangrillo and a spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office in Massachusetts declined to comment. An email seeking comment was sent to USC.