Straight Talk

Vancouver businessman and ex-CFL player David Sidoo faces new conspiracy charge in university admissions scandal

by Charlie Smith on April 10th, 2019 at 7:18 AM
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      A day after actor Felicity Huffman pleaded guilty in a scheme to fake test results for her daughter, 19 others involved in the university-admissions scandal have had a new charge added.

      They're now accused of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

      Among those are Vancouver businessman David Sidoo. This new allegation is in addition to a charge of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. It carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain from the offence.

      Another of those charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering is actor Lori Loughlin.

      The fresh indictment was issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Massachusetts.

      When Calls the Heart star Lori Loughlin has also been charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.

      The charge of conspiracy to money laundering carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved.

      None of the allegations against Sidoo, a 59-year-old former CFL player and philanthropist, have been proven in court.

      He's free after posting $1.5 million bail.

      This new indictment, like the initial one, alleges that Sidoo agreed to pay $100,000 for a Florida man, Mark Riddell, to take the SAT in place of Sidoo's older son.

      The Vancouver businessman allegedly emailed copies of the boy's driver's licence and student identification to the so-called ringleader, Rick Singer, to enable the surrogate to obtain fake ID. 

      Riddell also allegedly took a high school graduation exam for the older son, who attended St. George's private school in Dunbar.

      The Sidoo children have been featured in printed material extolling the virtues of a St. George's education.

      Prosecutors allege that Sidoo made another $100,000 payment for Riddell to take the SAT exam on behalf of his younger son, who also attended St. George's.

      In addition, Singer allegedly paid Riddell $5,000 plus travel expenses for each of the three exams that Riddell allegedly took in place of Sidoo's children.

      Singer, a California college admissions consultant, has already pleaded guilty.

      In a statement issued today, Sidoo's legal team declared: "Mr. Sidoo denies all of the charges. He strongly contests the legal and factual basis for these allegations and will rely on his defense team to defend him in future court proceedings."

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