BOSTON – The former accountant of the fake non-profit association headed by Rick Singer, at the root of the corruption scandal at American universities, agreed to plead guilty and cooperate with the government.

In an agreement with the federal prosecutors on Friday, Steven Masera, who worked as an accountant and financial agent for the Singer Key Worldwide Foundation and his Edge College and Career Network LLC, agreed to plead guilty to a conspiracy leader. to commit racketeering.

Masera, 69, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and $ 250,000, but the Justice Department has recommended a sentence of 57 to 71 months because of his guilty plea. In addition, prosecutors recommended a year of supervised release, as well as indeterminate amounts of restitution and confiscation.

BOSTON, MA – MARCH 25: Steve Masera, former accountant and financial agent of Singer's Edge College and Career Network, leaves office after being charged in the Boston Federal Court on March 25, 2019 in Boston, in Massachusetts. A dozen coaches, sports directors and event monitors are judged on Monday as part of the college admissions scandal. (Photo by Scott Eisen / Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775319997 ORIGINAL FILE: 1132806241 (Photo: Scott Eisen, Getty Images)

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With its cooperation agreement, Masera has agreed to cooperate fully with investigators and prosecutors. This includes providing them with all documents, objects and other evidence in their possession.

Prosecutors said Singer and his nonprofit organization had collected more than $ 25 million in rich parents' payments since 2011 to help their children enter some of the best colleges in the country. He either channeled portions of the money to test supervisors and other people to facilitate cheating on ACT or SAT, or to coaches to bring the kids to college as a falsified sports recruits.

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William "Rick" Singer. (Photo: CJ GUNTHER, EPA-EFE)

According to prosecutors, it is often Masera who oversaw transactions on behalf of Singer, sending notices to parents for their alleged "gift" or "pledge" to the Key Worldwide Foundation.

Singer, the former boss of Masera, pleaded guilty to various charges when the Justice Department announced the scandal in March. He cooperates with prosecutors throughout most of the investigation opened last year.

Another former Singer employee, Mikaela Sanford, pleaded not guilty to racketeering.

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Sanford and other defendants who pleaded not guilty in this conspiracy case are scheduled to hold a status conference Monday in Boston federal court. At the procedural hearing, their lawyers are expected to set the timetable for the disclosure of additional evidence, pending motions and other considerations.

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Nineteen of the 50 accused involved in the Varsity Blues scandal – including parents, coaches, test takers and others – have already pleaded guilty to court charges. Another parent has agreed to plead guilty but is waiting for a plea hearing in June.

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