May 17, 2019
Dr. Homayoun Zadeh, an associate professor of dentistry at the University of Southern California (USC), has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to launder money and commit fraud in an effort to get his daughter admitted to USC.
In a document filed in Boston federal court April 12, Zadeh, 57, entered his plea and is now awaiting trial.
But Zadeh’s case was complicated 11 days later when Laura Janke, an assistant coach at USC, pleaded guilty to falsifying records to show several teens were skilled athletes who should be admitted to USC. The indictment said one of the records she falsified was to show that Zadeh’s daughter was an able lacrosse player.
Of the 33 parents, including actress Lori Loughlin and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, 19 have entered not guilty pleas. But 14 of the parents are moving toward guilty pleas, as are several of the coaches, bringing the total of guilty pleas to 20.
Each of the two charges that Zadeh faces carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, though first-time offenders would likely get much less.
Prosecutors are recommending prison terms ranging from 12 to 18 months for those who have pleaded guilty—meaning those found guilty will likely face longer terms. All the plea deals with parents show fines of $9,500 to $150,000 being recommended.
Zadeh is a well-known dental researcher, faculty member and USC lab director who earlier received permission from the court to travel out of the country for previously scheduled lectures. After his arrest in the admissions case, he was placed on leave by USC leaders, who said that was the first step to firing him.
Zadeh, a periodontist, also has a private practice as part of the Brighton Dental Specialty Group, so he will not be left without an income.
He is accused of agreeing to pay William “Rick” Singer, the CEO of a for-profit college counseling and preparation business, $150,000 to help his daughter gain admission to USC.
“Zadeh told Singer that his daughter was concerned that ‘she did not get in on her own merits. I have not shared anything about our arrangement but somehow she senses it’,” the indictment said.
The indictment alleged Zadeh made payments to Singer’s nonprofit Key Worldwide Foundation between May 30, 2017, and September 7, 2018, in an effort to cover up the fact his payments were actually bribes.
Singer agreed to cooperate with the government when he realized he was being investigated and has provided paperwork and recordings showing how the parents paid him and how he paid several people like Janke to endorse the athletic acumen of the applicants.
A second Iranian-American, Ali Khosroshahin, a former coach at USC, has also been indicted. He has also pleaded not guilty.