The Massachusetts father, who said he was falsely accused of a “Varsity Blues” college admissions scandal, is suing USC and Netflix for their suspected role in his later overturned beliefs.
John Wilson, a former executive at Staples and Gap, was one of 33 parents accused of the 2019 bribery scandal.
In 2021, he was convicted of fraud, conspiracy and bribery in 2023, after the judge said the government had proven a “comprehensive conspiracy” between university counselors Wilson and Rick Singer, who were behind the admissions scheme that was sentenced to three and five years in prison.
John Wilson is filmed with his wife and three children. (Wilson Family) A letter of thanks John Wilson received from the university after John Wilson gave to USC. (John Wilson) On the left, John Wilson arrives in federal court on April 3, 2019, where his wife, Leslie, is charged with a national college admissions bribery scandal in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) John Wilson is portrayed with his wife and three children. (Wilson Family) File – In a file photo from March 12, 2019, Edge College & Career Network, founder of William “Rick” Singer, left federal court in Boston. The first trial in the “Operation Varsity Blues” College admissions bribery scandal, on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, could shed light on investigator tactics and brighten the spotlight in the secret school selection process, and many could formulate advocate for Rich. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) BOSTON, MA – April 3: Lori Loughlin is leaving the US Courthouse John Joseph Mohrekley after appearing in federal court to answer charges stemming from the university admissions scandal held in Boston, Massachusetts on April 3, 2019. (Photo: Paul Marotta/Getty Images) Malibu, California – April 21: Designer Mossimo Giannulli and actress Lori Loughlin will be attending the Malibu Lumber Yard Grand Opening, held on April 21, 2009 at Malibu, California. (John Shearer/Wire Image Photo) Actress Lori Laughlin (c) and her husband Mosimo Giannuli (c rear) will leave Boston Federal Court after a pre-trial hearing with Magistrate Judge Kerry in Boston and will leave Boston’s Federal Court on August 27, 2019, before leaving and leaving the pre-trial Judge Kerry with John Joseph Moreley US Court in Boston. Money laundering in a university entrance scandal. (Photo by Joseph Presioso/AFP) (Photo credits should read Joseph Presioso/AFP via Getty Images) Top Shot – Actress Felicity Huffman, escorted by her husband William H. Macy, heads to the entrance to John Joseph Mocree United States. -Huffman, one of the defendants charged with the university admission fraud scandal, is scheduled to be declared for paying $15,000 to inflate her daughter’s SAT score. (Photo: Joseph Presioso/AFP) (Photo by Joseph Presioso/AFP via Getty Images) Top Shot – Actress Felicity Huffman, escorted by her husband William H. Macy, left the John Joseph Mohleigh United States Court in Boston, where she was sentenced to the role of emackis hecits fectis fection, the host of university enrollment. College Admissions Scandal (Photo by Joseph Presioso / AFP) (Photo by Getty Images) Lori Laughlin left federal court in Boston on Tuesday, August 27, 2019, after hearings in a national college admissions bribery scandal. On the far right is her husband’s clothing designer, Moshimo Giannuli. (AP Photo/Steven Sen) Investor John Wilson arrived in federal court in Boston on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 with his wife Leslie and is charged with a national college admissions bribery scandal. The first trial in the university admissions bribery scandal was released on Monday, September 13, 2021, with defense attorneys attempting to portray two parents trying to accuse them of their children of a victim of a deception that they believe payments are legal contributions. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) Second John Wilson holds the hand to the right and right of his wife leaving the federal courthouse John Joseph Mohcree after the first day of trial in the college admissions scandal held in Boston on September 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Stew Milne) John Wilson and his wife will arrive in federal court in Boston on October 7, 2021. According to prosecutors, Wilson and another parent, Gamal Abderaziz, are first on trial in a university admissions bribery scandal. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds) The iconic Tommy Troy wooden horse statue is posing on the University of Southern California campus in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) University of Southern California campus, Los Angeles California. (KTLA) Gallen Center will be seen in Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 25th, 2023. Bronnie James, son of NBA superstar LeBron James, is hospitalized in stable condition one day after a cardiac arrest while attending basketball practice at the University of Southern California. A family spokesman said USC medical staff treated 18-year-old James at the Gallen Center on Monday and was taken to hospital. (AP photo/Damiando Burgergen)
Wilson said the incident ruined his life and career, but he argued that legal costs would cost him saving his life.
He filed a lawsuit against the University of Southern California over alleged roles in his unlawful conviction. He is also suing Netflix for atf losses for what he described as an inaccurate portrayal of him and his son in the film “Operation Varsity Blues.”
He remembers the moment when his world was upside down when he arrived in Houston from an international business trip and surrounded by FBI agents.
“They said, ‘You’ve been arrested like 50 others, and that’s related to fake profiles with tests and bribery coaches,” he told KTLA’s Mary Beth Macdede. “I said, ‘What? I didn’t do that.’
The incident attracted national media attention as well as well as famous defendants such as actress Lori Laughlin, her husband, fashion designer Mosimo Giannuli and actress Felicity Huffman.
But Wilson said there was no reason to fend for someone or trick someone into tricking them. He said his son Johnny had an excellent test score and was a nationally ranked water polo player.
“I said, ‘We went to USC. My son played on the USC team. We didn’t do anything fake,” Wilson said. “We gave the school money. We got a receipt from the school. We didn’t fool the test.”
In 2010, Wilson hired an independent college advisor based in LA, and hired “Rick College Advers,” named Rick Singer, to advise his son on the USC College admission process. The singer highly recommended Wilson.
He first checked with USC’s assistant athletic director when Singer recommended Wilson make a $100,000 donation to USC through Singer’s charity.
“He confirmed the donation was successful through the singer’s organization,” recalls Wilson. “It’s been done many times in the past, and this was a common practice in USC.”
USC later sent a letter of thanks to Wilson confirming that he had received the donation to the water polo team. His son continued to play for USC as a freshman in 2014.
But when Wilson catches up with Singer’s other clients, those who actually paid for the fake academic records and tests, or those who made donations in exchange for entry, he says he won’t fall without a fight to clear his name.
“We didn’t fool the test,” he said.
Wilson also claims that USC lied about his donation.
Prior to Wilson’s trial, Netflix produced a documentary about the case “Operation Varsity Blues.” Wilson claims he and his child are mistakenly portrayed negatively.
“They were scattered around me so everyone thought I was cheated on the test, so I fed the coach and thought all of my kids weren’t qualified,” he said. “That wasn’t true.”
Wilson refused a plea deal aimed at proving his innocence and protecting the future of his child. He was convicted at his first trial, but continued to fight, and all the central convictions were overturned and exonerated on appeal.
After Wilson said he spent life savings on the case, he is suing USC for their suspect role in illegal beliefs.
“I want USC to tell the truth and I want them to correct the records,” he said. “I want them to deal with some of the financial difficulties that have cost us.”
He filed a honour and loss lawsuit against the entertainment company for Netflix documentary Wilson.
“They smeared me and my son with innuendo and the wide range Netflix had was amazing, so it was devastating,” he said.
“For Netflix, we’re in the discovery stage,” said William Tannenbaum, Wilson’s lawyer. “They filed a motion to dismiss. We managed to oppose the motion to dismiss.”
Wilson said he wants someone who harmed his family to take responsibility and he will continue to fight to clarify his family’s name.
“This was the most devastating thing I’ve ever experienced in my life,” he said. “I can’t imagine seeing your children being affected in this way and seeing your hardworking innocent children.”
USC argues there is no merit in the lawsuit, and university officials say they have made major changes to the athletics admissions process since the lawsuit. Netflix did not provide a comment on the case.
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