First person sentenced in college admissions scandal receives no prison time

The first person to be sentenced as part of the college admissions scandal will not have to serve time in prison.

John Vandemoer, the former Stanford University head sailing coach who prosecutors said took $610,000 in bribes to falsely list students as sailing recruits, on Wednesday was sentenced to two years of supervised release, USA Today reports. His sentence included one day in prison that was deemed served. He was also hit with a $10,000 fine.

This sentencing came as part of the massive nationwide investigation involving parents paying to get their children admitted into prestigious universities. Some, including actress Felicity Huffman, allegedly paid in order to have proctors help their children cheat on the SATs. Other parents allegedly paid bribes so that coaches would say that their children were recruits for sports that they didn't actually play.

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Vandemoer pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering, and prosecutors were seeking 13 months in prison. But the judge on Wednesday said prison time was not necessary, as Vandemoer didn't use the money he received personally but instead put it toward the sailing program, USA Today reports. Vandemoer told The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, "This was the biggest mistake of my life."