Mark Riddell, Accused Test Taker In College Admissions Bribery Scam, Set To Plead Guilty

TAMPA (CBSMiami) - A former prep school administrator from Bradenton who is accused of taking college admissions tests for students as part of a wide-ranging college admissions bribery scheme is set to plead guilty.

Mark Riddell will enter his plea Friday afternoon to one count each of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering at federal court in Boston.

Riddell, 36, oversaw college entrance exam preparation at IMG Academy, founded by renowned tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, that bills itself as the world's largest sports academy.

Documents say Riddell secretly took exams for students or replaced their answers with his own. Prosecutors say he typically was paid $10,000 per test.

Riddell was charged with nearly 50 other people, including celebrities and wealthy parents who allegedly paid bribes to get their children into elite U.S. colleges.

Riddell could have faced up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, but prosecutors are recommending incarceration and a fine at the low end of guidelines.

According to federal prosecutors, Riddell played a key role in an arrangement hatched by William "Rick" Singer, an admissions consultant accused of orchestrating the scheme for years while catering to a rich clientele that included Hollywood stars and business executives.

Among dozens of others charged in the scandal are actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin; Loughlin's husband, designer Mossimo Giannulli; college sports coaches; athletic administrators; and CEOs.

Huffman will plead guilty May 21 to paying an admissions consultant $15,000 to rig her daughter's SAT score. Prosecutors have said they will seek a prison sentence on the low end of a range of four to 10 months.