College Admissions Scandal Ringleader Rick Singer Sentenced To 3.5 Years In Prison

The prosecution argued he "was the architect of a massive, decades-long scheme to use fraud and bribery to secure admission of high school students to elite colleges and universities across the country."

They said Singer benefited more than anyone from the scandal, and, therefore, should get more time behind bars than the parents — like Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin — that shelled out thousands for their kids to get a leg up in the admissions process and the coaches/associates that helped falsify their college applications.

Singer had pled guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

"It was a scheme that was breathtaking in its scale and its audacity. It has literally become the stuff of books and made-for-TV movies," Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Frank said in court before sentencing.

Singer ended up apologizing for the scandal, blaming his moral compass and father.

"My moral compass was warped by the lessons my father taught me about competition," he said. "I embraced his belief that embellishing or even lying to win was acceptable as long as there was victory. I should have known better."