Rick Singer, mastermind of the Varsity Blues scandal, is sentenced to 3½ years in prison
This case was not part of the Varsity Blues investigation, but it was tried by some of the same prosecutors and had surprisingly similar details. This was prompted by a Boston Globe investigation in 2019 that found Mr. Zhao, chief executive of telecommunications company iTalk Global Communications, had bought Mr. Brand’s home at an inflated price. Following the Globe’s report, Harvard fired the coach.
Mr. Weinreb, Mr. Zhao’s lawyer, said in an interview that Mr. Zhao’s sons were highly qualified for admission – both academically and as fencers. And he added that Mr. Zhao was simply a generous person and a gentle touch.
In his closing argument, Mr. Weinreb leaned on fundraising.
“The family not only paid full tuition for the two boys over the course of eight years, they also donated more than $300,000 to the university — and that includes $250,000 they started a trust that would go toward maturity.” But $1 million to Harvard,” she told the jury.
As the Zaos made the first $250,000 donation, Mr. Weinreb said, “Harvard kept coming back for more, because the Zaos are exactly the kind of family Harvard wants.”
In Chaos, he said, Harvard has found “great kids, great students, great fencers and a great family that has generously supported the college in its fencing program. Where’s the crime in that?”
Rachel Dane, a Harvard spokeswoman, said the university was not implicated in the varsity blues, nor a party to the fencing case, and would have no comment. Mr. Weinreb, they said, “is not employed by Harvard University and has no knowledge of our admissions process or preferences.”
Kevin G. Andrade contributed reporting. Alain Delaquerière contributed research.