Appeals Court Overturns Convictions of Two Parents in College Admissions Scandal

A federal appeals court has overturned the convictions of two parents, Gamal Abdelaziz and John Wilson, who were found guilty of bribing their children's way into elite universities as part of the college admissions scandal. The court found that the trial judge incorrectly instructed the jury to consider the admissions spot as university "property" under the mail and wire fraud law. The prosecution also failed to prove that Abdelaziz and Wilson agreed to the "overarching conspiracy" perpetrated by admissions consultant William "Rick" Singer. Abdelaziz and Wilson were sentenced last year to 12 and 15 months in prison, respectively, though they were allowed to remain free while pursuing their appeals.