Defense attorney Candice Fields said Singer took great personal risk by wearing a wire to record meetings and “did whatever was necessary” to assist the government in its investigation. Fields had requested three years of probation, or if the judge decided prison time was necessary, six months behind bars.
Singer apologized to his family, the schools he embarrassed in the public eye and others. He also promised to work every day of his life going forward to have a positive influence on people’s lives.
“My moral compass was warped by the lessons my father taught me about competition. I embraced his belief that embellishing or even lying to win was acceptable as long as there was victory. I should have known better,” he said.
Federal prosecutor Rachel Rollins said during a press conference after the sentencing hearing that she stood by the office’s request for six years in prison, noting that Singer did receive more prison than other defendants sentenced in the case.
“I had absolutely no idea how corrupted and infected the admissions process was until this case exposed everything,” Rollins said. “Any parent or guardian who has ever experienced the college admissions process should be angry.”
Rollins also said the case would change how universities conducted their admissions process. She said she would argue the “accelerated push” of colleges adopting test-optional admissions policies was partially influenced by the Varsity Blues case.