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UCLA men’s soccer coach Jorge Salcedo has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for conspiracy to commit racketeering by the federal government as part of a new sweeping college admission and testing scheme.
The government alleges that Salcedo took a $100,000 bribe to help a student get admitted to UCLA using falsified admission information.
According to court documents:
On or about May 20, 2016, Ali Khosroshahin, the former head coach of women’s soccer at USC, forwarded the falsified soccer profile, ACT score and transcripts on CW-1’s behalf to Jorge Salcedo, the head coach of UCLA men’s soccer.19 Khosroshahin wrote: “soccer player/student manager. I have attached her profile, player explanation, transcripts for both high schools and ACT scores…will make sure she has registered with the NCAA. Please let me know if you need any additional information[.]”
On or about June 28, 2016, the UCLA student-athlete admissions committee approved the ISACKSONS’ daughter for provisional admission that fall. CW-1 notified the ISACKSONS via e-mail the following day. DAVINA ISACKSON responded, copying BRUCE ISACKSON and their daughter: “I know it has been a rough ride but I thank you from the bottom of my heart and soul for your persistence, creativity and commitment towards helping [our daughter].”
On or about July 7, 2016, CW-1 directed a payment of $100,000 from one of the KWF charitable accounts to a sports marketing company controlled by Salcedo. CW-1 subsequently also caused KWF to issue a check to Khosroshahin in the amount of $25,000.
In addition to Salcedo, Ali Khosroshahin, the former women’s head soccer coach at Southern Cal has also been indicted. Southern Cal senior associate athletic director Donna Heinel and Southern Cal water polo head coach Jovan Vavic have also been indicted.
Of course, this will need to work its way through the court system, and everyone remains innocent until proven guilty. At the same time, I can’t imagine that Salcedo will remain employed by UCLA for very long.
Here are the court documents that were published by the Justice Department. First, there’s the complaint. Then, there’s the indictment itself.
UPDATE (3/12/2019 10:22 am): Ben Bolch of the LA Times is the first to report that UCLA has placed Jorge Salcedo on leave as a result of this situation.
Longtime UCLA men's soccer coach Jorge Salcedo has been placed on leave in the wake of his indictment in the college admissions scandal that's breaking today.
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) March 12, 2019
In addition to the first alleged bribe detailed above, the documents also allege that Salcedo took a second $100K bribe in October 2018.
We will have more on this story as it develops....
Go Bruins.