'Varsity Blues' architect William Singer gets more than three years in prison

William Rick Singer received a three-and-a-half year prison sentence, along with supervised release, on Wednesday after previously pleading guilty to multiple charges stemming from his organization of a fraudulent college admissions scheme.

Singer will spend 42 months in prison and a further three years under supervised release under the sentence, per NBC. Prosecutors had sought a six-year sentence. 

Singer, for his part, has expressed regret for his actions, through which he obtained more than $25 million and spent more than $7 million in bribes. He contends that he can become a law-abiding citizen following his release.

Known as "Operation Varsity Blues," Singer worked with parents nationwide to illicitly aid their children in obtaining admission to select universities and colleges, in a scheme that included bribery, false claims of athletic involvement, cheating on admissions exams, and many other methods.

He pleaded guilty in March 2019 to racketeering conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, according to the outlet. He later aided the FBI in its investigation of the wider scandal.

The scandal tarnished several Hollywood actors, including Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, both of whom ultimately pleaded guilty to their involvement and served short prison sentences.