Prominent Vancouver-based Indo-Canadian businessman David Sidoo pleaded guilty to a single charge of mail fraud conspiracy Friday in Boston federal court with all other charges against him being dropped by prosecutors as part of the plea deal. He will be given a 90 day jail term and a $250,000 fine. Recent developments in the case had exposed what defence attorneys say is very serious prosecutorial misconduct that is threatening to unravel the numerous serious charges brought against wealthy parents, including Canadians, who are accused of bribing or paying to have their children admitted to ivy-league US colleges and universities.  DESIBUZZCanada ran a feature story on this last week. Given these developments, sources tell DESIBUZZCanada sources that continuing fighting the case was detrimental to Sidoo’s business and well-being and that even though his case was pretty strong but because of the way US legal system is set up with prosecutors wielding way too much power that it would be a waste of resources and time to continue fighting. And even if he had won his case, US prosecutors could easily try it in other states so it made sense for him to take a plea on a single charge with all others dropped.

By PD Raj – Senior Writer DESIBUZZCanada

VANCOUVER -- Prominent Vancouver-based Indo-Canadian businessman David Sidoo pleaded guilty to a single charge of mail fraud conspiracy Friday in Boston federal court with all other charges against him being dropped by prosecutors as part of the plea deal. 

He will be given a 90 day jail term and a $250,000 fine. 

Sidoo, a venture capitalist and a former Canadian Football League player, admitted to his part in participating in a college admissions cheating scheme by hiring someone take the SATs in place of his two sons.

Sidoo was among 50 prominent parents, university athletic coaches and others charged last March in the scheme, which authorities say involved rigged entrance exams and bogus athletic credentials to make applicants look like star athletes for sports they didn't play, reported Associated Press..

Sidoo paid the admissions consultant at the centre of the scheme $200,000 to have someone pose as his sons using a fake ID to secure higher scores on their SATs, prosecutors said.

Sidoo, 60, said little in court except to answer questions from the judge about the plea agreement. His lawyer, Martin Weinberg, declined to comment after the hearing. Sidoo is scheduled to be sentenced in July.

The test taker, Mark Riddell, pleaded guilty last April and has been cooperating with investigators. He has not yet been sentenced.

Prominent Vancouver Businessman David Sidoo Expected To Settle His Case In The US College Admissions Scheme

New Allegations Of Prosecutorial Misconduct May Have Led To Prosecutors Open To A Single Charge Plea!

Sidoo, who has been accused of participating in a college-admissions scheme in the United States, had maintained that he is innocent and will fight all charges against him. He had faced a charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering, in addition to a charge of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

Sidoo’s lawyers had said previously that their client strongly contests the legal and factual basis for the allegations and will rely on his defence team to defend him in future court proceedings.

Recent developments in the case had exposed what defence attorneys say is very serious prosecutorial misconduct that is threatening to unravel the numerous serious charges brought against wealthy parents, including Canadians, who are accused of bribing or paying to have their children admitted to ivy-league US colleges and universities.  DESIBUZZCanada ran a feature story on this last week.

In US District Court in Boston, Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton described the allegations of prosecutorial misconduct as “very serious" and directed Hollywood star Lori Loughlin’s attorneys to file a motion to dismiss, suppress evidence, or sanction prosecutors by March 13. Prosecutors must file a response by March 27. 

Loughlin’s Attorneys also alleged in a court filing that new information shows that FBI agents bullied the key cooperating witness, Rick Singer, into ensnaring his clients in the investigation. 

“They continue to ask me to tell a fib and not restate what I told my clients as to where their money was going — to the program not the coach and that it was a donation and they want it to be a payment,” Singer wrote, according to the defense filing. 

“Essentially they are asking me to bend the truth.” Lawyers called the new evidence "devastating to the government’s case," adding that it "demonstrates that the Government has been improperly withholding core exculpatory information, employing a 'win at all costs' effort rather than following their obligation to do justice." They predicted it would set off a series of motions of defendants, including potential motions to dismiss the indictments.

DESIBUZZCanada ran a feature story on this last week. Given these developments, sources tell DESIBUZZCanada sources that continuing fighting the case was detrimental to Sidoo’s business and well-being and that even though his case was pretty strong but because of the way US legal system is set up with prosecutors wielding way too much power that it would be a waste of resources and time to continue fighting. And even if he had won his case, US prosecutors could easily try it in other states so it made sense for him to take a plea on a single charge with all others dropped.

 “David is a great guy and all of us make mistakes and sometimes we are blind when it comes to the well being and education of our children but I know that he’s innocent of the charges and I think it’s the best course for him to get back to his thriving business and put this nightmare behind him,” said a close friend of Sidoo’s who wanted to remain anonymous.

Sidoo is a recognized Vancouver businessman, philanthropist, former CFL player, and a mainstay figure in UBC’s athletics program.

Sidoo played professional football for six years for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and BC Lions, according to his website. He was CEO of mining firm Advantage Lithium Corp. when he was arrested last year and was also a founding shareholder of an oil and gas company that was sold in 2010 for more than $600 million.