Prosecutors Include Exhibit of Olivia Jade Giannulli Rowing Resume
Prosecutors Include Exhibit of Olivia Jade Giannulli Rowing Resume
Prosecutors Include Exhibit of Olivia Jade Giannulli Rowing Resume
The defendants’ reply briefs make three principal assertions: first, that the government’s
recent disclosures were late; second, that the government is withholding exculpatory evidence; and
third, that the government should be ordered to disclose the complete FBI-302 reports of its witness
First, the defendants complain that the government’s January 28 disclosures should have
been made earlier – McGlashan, for example, contends the information should have been disclosed
within 28 days of his arraignment last spring, Dkt. 806 at 2 (“McGlashan Br.”), and Loughlin and
Giannulli assert that it was disclosed at “the eleventh hour,” Dkt 807 at 3 (“Giannulli Br.”) – are
baseless because the interviews were not conducted until recently. 1 The government’s disclosures
of statements by Rick Singer, for example, were largely based on an interview conducted in
December. That is why, in its response brief, the government alerted the Court and the parties that
it anticipated “making supplemental disclosures to the defendants in the next few days after this
1
It is, of course, not the “eleventh hour.” No trial date has been set in this case. But if
Loughlin and Giannulli believe their contention, it begs the question why they have not made any
Rule 16 disclosures, and why they should not therefore be precluded from introducing any items
as part of their case-in-chief that they have not disclosed.
Case 1:19-cr-10080-NMG Document 834 Filed 02/07/20 Page 2 of 12
brief is filed concerning the most recent interview reports.” Dkt. 736 at 2 (“Gov’t Br.”). The
government has broad powers, but they do not include mental telepathy or time travel. The
government cannot disclose witness statements before the witnesses make them.
Second, the defendants demand that the government “cease withholding critical evidence”
(Giannulli Br. at 4), and contend that the government “still [has] not made any clear statement
regarding what they might have beyond the 302s that has [sic] not been produced” (McGlashan
Br. at 10). Putting aside for the moment that the government is under no obligation to itemize what
it has not produced, the government has, in fact, made precisely such a disclosure. As set forth in
its response brief, the government “has produced e-mails, financial records, audio recordings, and
other documentary evidence in its possession, custody or control pertaining to each of the
categories of information the defendants seek. The government has not withheld any such evidence
based on its disagreement about the merits of the defendants’ requests.” (Gov’t Br. at 3-4). In
addition, the government has, in a demonstration of its good faith, provided FBI-302 reports of
witness interviews to the Court, together with the related disclosures, for in camera review. These
disclosures make clear that the government is not withholding exculpatory evidence. While the
defendants may, understandably, be upset about the lack of exculpatory evidence, the absence of
such evidence is a result of their criminal conduct, not any government disclosure violations. 2
Third, as the government has noted, the instant dispute boils down to the defendants’
demand for the FBI-302 reports in their entirety. But the defendants are simply not entitled to those
2
The defendants complain that “the Government’s view of the evidence determines what
is Brady.” (McGlashan Br. at 5). Their gripe is with the law, not the government. As the Supreme
Court has made clear, “[t]he government is primarily responsible for deciding what evidence it
must disclose to the defendant under Brady.” United States v. Prochilo, 629 F3d 264, 268 (1st Cir.
2011) (citing Pennsylvania v. Ritchie, 480 U.S. 39, 59–60 (1987)).
2
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reports at this time. The rules concerning the disclosure of impeachment information and Jencks
material are clear. Calling such material “Brady” does not make it so. This case presents no basis
to depart from the well-established procedures that govern every criminal case, notwithstanding
the defense’s histrionic briefs that appear to be written for an audience other than the Court. While
the government may, in the interests of efficiency, disclose impeachment materials earlier than is
required under the Local Rules, the defendants’ request for Court intervention is without merit and
should be denied.
Loughlin and Giannulli demand that the government disclose Singer’s “full statements”
As previously noted, the government has disclosed all communications in its possession,
custody and control between or among Singer, Loughlin and Giannulli, as well as summaries of
what Singer told government investigators about what he recalled about his communications with
Loughlin and Giannulli concerning their payments. Counsel for Giannulli and Loughlin complain
that “the Government has offered no justification for providing a prosecutor’s sanitized
characterization of the 302 Reports rather than the actual Reports and accompanying notes from
the interviewers themselves.” (Id. at 12). But the defendants’ characterization of the government’s
disclosure as “sanitized” is baseless and untrue, and “the Government is under no legal obligation
to explain why it chose to summarize the statements at issue rather than produce the notes and FBI
302s.” United States v. Collins, 409 F. Supp. 3d 228, 244–45 (S.D.N.Y. 2019) (“Defendants do
not cite case law that supports their argument that the Government is required to produce primary
3
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materials containing exculpatory statements in order to meet its Brady obligation. This is not
To the extent the defendants seek Singer’s statements to other, uncharged parents
concerning “their admissions-related donations” (Giannulli Br. at 7), the government has, as noted,
provided the actual communications in its possession, custody or control. That said, the defendants
correctly note that the government has not disclosed the substance of Singer’s statements to
investigators about what he told other, uncharged parents. That is because those statements are not
exculpatory as to these defendants. 4 The defendants’ contention that, if “Singer did in fact tell
some clients that their admissions-related donations were legitimate,” that would “corroborate[]
Defendants’ lack of fraudulent intent” is farcical. (Id.). Communications the defendants did not
know about cannot be “quintessential Brady,” as they contend, because those communications are
not evidence of the defendants’ state of mind and could not have shaped their intent. Indeed, unlike
Loughlin and Giannulli also seek all information concerning “USC’s knowledge about
Singer and his operation.” As the government has noted, it has disclosed all documents and
communications relevant to its investigation that it obtained from USC, including all documents
3
See also, e.g., United States v. Mavashev, 2010 WL 670083, at *1-*3 (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 23,
2010) (rejecting defense request for witness statements where government produced summaries of
favorable information witnesses provided); United States v. Henderson, 250 Fed. Appx. 34, 38-39
(5th Cir. 2007) (approving government’s disclosure of information by letter).
4
To the extent such evidence constitutes Jencks or impeachment material, the government
will disclose it as such in accordance with the Local Rules.
5
Moreover, to the extent Singer described his scheme to an uncharged parent as “not
improper,” such communications simply highlight the inculpatory nature of his communications
with Giannulli and Loughlin.
4
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related to Loughlin, Giannulli or Singer. The government has also reviewed FBI 302 reports of its
witness interviews, but – with the notable exception of cooperating witnesses who were members
of the charged conspiracy – has not interviewed any USC witness who was aware of Singer’s
scheme to facilitate the admission of his clients’ children as purported athletic recruits, in exchange
for money. No witness has suggested that USC condoned this scheme, tacitly or otherwise. Nor is
the government in possession of any evidence suggesting that anyone at USC, save Heinel, was
aware the Giannulli children were admitted in exchange for money, or that they were not the
Moreover, the evidence the government has already disclosed explains the absence of such
information. For example, Heinel took steps to make sure that payments from Singer could not be
traced to the admission of any student. See Ex. A at 3 (Oct. 5, 2018 call in which Heinel instructed
Singer to delay having side door families send her the $50,000 checks because she did not want
the money “so close” to the time of the applicant’s admission). Likewise, to the extent that Heinel
apprised the Dean of Admissions about legitimate donations by the families of applicants, she
specifically did not do so with respect to the payments by Loughlin and Giannulli. See Ex. B
“donations”). Similarly, to the extent that Singer, through his purported charity, made payments to
Heinel’s accounts at USC, he typically did so through cashier’s checks. See Ex. C (examples of
cashiers checks).
6
Singer himself has advised the government that he hid the scheme from USC’s athletic
director, and that he was not aware of anyone at the university, besides Heinel and the other co-
conspirators, who knew about it.
5
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McGlashan seeks evidence “reflecting what and how much he knew” about the
standardized test cheating and the USC “side door” recruitment, including whether his co-
conspirators deceived or were forthcoming with him. 7 (McGlashan Br. at 8). Evidence that he was
deceived, McGlashan contends, should be produced as exculpatory, while evidence that he was
not deceived should be produced as pursuant to Rule 16(a)(1)(E)(i) as “material to the preparation
of the defense.”
Like Loughlin and Giannulli, what McGlashan really seeks are witness statements,
inasmuch as the government has already produced all of his all recorded telephone calls, e-mails
and text messages with Singer. The government has also reviewed the FBI 302 reports of
interviews with Singer and Mark Riddell and produced any statements in those reports reflecting
McGlashan’s lack of knowledge of the scheme, as well as any statements Singer and Riddell have
made concerning whether his son had a legitimate learning disability. 8 While McGlashan may,
understandably, be disappointed that this disclosure was limited, that fact is attributable to the
To the extent that McGlashan seeks inculpatory witness statements, he is not now entitled
to them. McGlashan continues to insist that he is entitled to such statements under Rule 16 as
evidence “material” to his defense, citing a 2007 decision by then-Magistrate Judge Sorokin. In a
7
McGlashan refers to two “schemes” but he is, in fact, charged with a single scheme, albeit
one that was committed in multiple ways and had multiple victims.
8
The government has also produced evidence obtained from McGlashan’s school and a
doctor regarding his son’s learning disability. Further, although not exculpatory, Riddell has told
the government that he did not believe that McGlashan’s son had a learning disability.
6
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later case, however, Judge Sorokin acknowledged that his earlier conclusion does not apply to
Jencks Act material, because FED. R. CRIM. P. 16(a)(2), specifically “exclude[s] Jencks Act
Information from its reach.” United States v. O’Brien, 2013 WL 1057929, at *9 (D. Mass. Mar. 13,
2013); see also FED. R. CRIM. P. 16(a)(2) (rule does not authorize the “discovery or inspection of
statements made by prospective government witnesses except as provided by” the Jencks Act, and
does not authorize the inspection of government reports or memoranda except as permitted by
subsections concerning statements of the defendant and expert witnesses); see also United States
v. Nelson-Rodriguez, 319 F.3d 12, 37 (1st Cir. 2003) (holding that the Jencks Act does not require
government to disclose FBI 302 reports until after witness’s testimony on direct examination).
Tellingly absent from the “exceptions” set forth in Rule 16(a)(2) is Rule 16(a)(1)(E)(i)—the
provision concerning items “material to preparing the defense.” McGlashan’s effort to render the
Jencks Act meaningless is at odds with the plain language of Rule 16 and should be rejected.
McGlashan next seeks evidence “reflecting the fact that he did not participate in the side
door scheme for which he is charged.” (McGlashan Br. at 11). The government has already
participate in the side door. There is nothing additional to disclose at this time.
McGlashan complains that the government’s disclosures concerning when Singer began
cooperating and when “Singer first suspected that he was being investigated” are insufficient.
(McGlashan Br. at 13). Once again, however, there is nothing more to disclose. As the government
has noted, Singer was first approached by investigators on September 21, 2018, and the
7
Case 1:19-cr-10080-NMG Document 834 Filed 02/07/20 Page 8 of 12
government has no information suggesting that he was aware of the government’s investigation
Like Loughlin and Giannulli, McGlashan seeks evidence “showing that USC was familiar
with Singer and his method of getting students admitted to USC (or that McGlashan believed as
much).” (McGlashan Br. at 13). As set forth above, the government has no evidence that USC was
aware of or condoned Singer’s scheme, or of McGlashan’s effort to secure his son’s admission to
McGlashan, in his reply, appears to abandon his request for grand jury transcripts, and
instead now seeks in camera review of those transcripts on the grounds that the evidence presented
to the grand jury was somehow “inaccurate.” McGlashan offers nothing new in support of this
request, and he does not identify a single inaccuracy in the Fourth Superseding Indictment. 9
Accordingly, McGlashan falls far short of meeting his heavy burden of showing a “particularized
need” or “compelling necessity” warranting such review. See United States v. Capozzi, 486 F.3d
711, 727 (1st Cir. 2007) (“[T]he indispensable secrecy of grand jury proceedings must not be
broken except where there is compelling necessity” and “[t]he burden of showing particularized
9
Contrary to McGlashan’s contention, the Fourth Superseding Indictment correctly sets
forth the date on which the ACT sent the fraudulently obtained score to Northeastern University.
See FSI ¶¶ 200 and 376. While the Northeastern application itself, which contained the ACT score,
was sent on October 22, 2018 – the date McGlashan cites – the ACT released the score directly to
Northeastern via wire on October 24, 2018. See Ex. D (ACT Internet reporting date for
Northeastern (school 1880) was in cycle 81330 for McGlashan, which was Oct. 24, 2018).
8
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John Wilson
Like Loughlin and Giannulli, Wilson seeks “evidence that Singer assured his clients that
their donations were lawful and were welcomed by the recipient institutions,” which Wilson
contends “directly negates the existence of the required element of bad intent.” (Wilson Br. at 4).
Once again, Wilson’s demand is for a witness statement, because the government has already
produced every communication in its possession, custody, or control between Singer and a parent
or client regarding his scheme. But Wilson is not entitled to such witness statements because they
are not exculpatory. While Singer’s statements assuring clients that their donations were lawful
might arguably be exculpatory as to the parents to whom Singer provided such assurances, they
are assuredly not exculpatory as to Wilson, who received no such assurances (and who falsely
deducted his payments from his taxes as purported business consulting expenses, supported by
falsified invoices). Nor is the fact that the government has charged a “nationwide conspiracy”
relevant to this analysis. (Id. at 5). The government has not alleged that all of Singer’s clients were
members of that conspiracy. And even exculpatory statements to other alleged co-conspirators
would not “undermine the overall conspiracy,” as Wilson contends, unless they were made (or
known) to every alleged member of the conspiracy, thereby negating its existence. That is not the
case.
As Wilson acknowledges, the government has disclosed to Wilson that it was his long-time
accountant who introduced him to Singer. Wilson complains that the disclosure should have been
9
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made “many months ago.” In contrast to Wilson, however, the government was not in possession
“contradicts the government’s theory that USC was defrauded into admitting Wilson’s son” is
untrue. (Id. at 6). To the contrary, information about the legitimate fundraising practices of USC
and other schools is inculpatory as to Wilson and the other defendants because it highlights the
illegality of their end-run around the legitimate development and admissions process. Likewise,
Wilson’s contention that his “payment was a donation by all commonsensical and precedent-based
definitions of that word,” is perplexing, since Wilson went to great lengths to deduct that payment
from his taxes as a business expense, a scheme Wilson himself described as “Awesome.” 10 (Id.)
See Dkt. 736-1 at 219 and 221. Notwithstanding its disagreement that this information has any
exculpatory value, however, the government will disclose to the defendants the substance of
the falsehoods on his son’s USC application. What the government disclosed is that Singer, in a
recent interview, did not initially recall whether, six years ago, Wilson was aware of falsehoods in
his son’s application, but later did recall, after refreshing his recollection by reviewing his e-mail
correspondence, that Wilson was aware of those falsehoods. The government has no other
10
Ultimately, $120,000 was deducted as a business consulting expense and the remaining
$100,000 was deducted as a charitable payment to Singer’s KWF. See Dkt. 736-1 at 223-26.
10
Case 1:19-cr-10080-NMG Document 834 Filed 02/07/20 Page 11 of 12
evidence suggesting that Wilson was unaware of the falsehoods in his son’s application. To the
contrary, the evidence is that Singer sent Wilson the water polo profile, which contained falsities.
Wilson still presents no argument for why evidence of what Singer did for other individuals
is material or exculpatory as to Wilson. It is not, and Wilson is not entitled to additional disclosures
on this subject.
The government has produced all bank records in its possession, custody or control
showing how the money Singer received was disbursed, as well as charts tracking the money flow.
To the extent that Singer (or anyone else) has suggested in interviews that Singer stole money from
his clients, that information will be disclosed as impeachment material pursuant to the Local Rules.
mind when the defendant does not know that the conversation has been scripted. To the extent that
Singer failed to follow the government’s instructions, however, the government will disclose the
11
Wilson is, in any event, already in possession of the information about Singer’s
obstruction. During Singer’s plea colloquy, he explained to Judge Zobel that he received
instructions from investigators “that I could not tip anybody or couldn’t talk to anybody about
things,” but that he did not follow those instructions and instead alerted certain clients to the
government’s investigation. See Singer’s March 12, 2019 Rule 11 colloquy at 28-29.
11
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CONCLUSION
Respectfully submitted,
ANDREW E. LELLING
United States Attorney
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that this document filed through the ECF system will be sent electronically
to the registered participants as identified on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) on February 7,
2020.
12
Case 1:19-cr-10080-NMG Document 834-1 Filed 02/07/20 Page 1 of 4
2018-10-05 14-54-46 09593-001 Page 1
4 Call Participants:
5 Rick Singer
6 Donna Heinel
8 Bates No.:
14 HEINEL: Excellent.
21 (sp?).
2 OK.
4 SINGER: OK.
8 SINGER: OK.
9 HEINEL: And the fact that [01:00] she, you know, had that
11 SINGER: Right.
13 (inaudible).
15 HEINEL: She needs, uh, you know, basically Bs, nothing lower
21 HEINEL: Yeah, I just want to make sure that, uh, you know,
6 SINGER: Absolutely.
10 HEINEL: Yeah.
13 HEINEL: (inaudible).
19 SINGER: And what do you want w-- do you want -- are you
5 I -- I’ll (inaudible).
9 HEINEL: (inaudible).
10 SINGER: OK.
12