‘Varsity Blues’ Dad Sues USC for Fraud, Asks for Donation Back

A parent involved in the “Varsity Blues” college admissions scandal, who had his fraud and bribery convictions overturned, sued the University of Southern California, alleging school representatives led him to believe his six-figure 2014 donation was legitimate.

John Wilson, CEO of Hyannis Port Capital Inc., said multiple USC representatives promised him that a donation would “legally and ethically” improve admission odds for his son, Johnny Wilson, who was an accomplished water polo player.

The school must return Wilson’s $100,000 donation to the USC Athletic Fund, he wrote in his complaint filed Friday in California Superior Court, Los Angeles County. He also seeks at least $75 million in damages.

The complaint comes about a year after a panel of judges from the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit unanimously overturned most of Wilson’s prior conviction while upholding only the verdict as it related to filing a false tax return.

“Despite these false charges, USC shamelessly retained the donation, exposing a disturbing pattern of deceit and exploitation,” Wilson wrote.

USC didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Wilson was tied to a scandal led by William Singer that ensnared dozens of ultra-wealthy parents, Hollywood stars, and college coaches. The scheme included bribing college coaches, helping their children cheat on standardized tests, and faking prowess in sports on their applications.

But Wilson’s child was athletically and academically qualified to be on the team, and a two-day polygraph test showed that Wilson never thought he was paying a bribe, his complaint said.

Wilson said he thought he paid $220,000 to USC but Singer embezzled $120,000, according to the complaint.

“As the sole Varsity Blues defendant living in Massachusetts, Mr. Wilson was the presumptive “venue hook” the Boston-based prosecutors needed to help justify bringing the trials for all the Hollywood celebrities and other West Coast parents to Boston,” the complaint said.

William Charles Tanenbaum of Beverly Hills represents Wilson.

The case is Wilson v. Univ. of S. California, Cal. Super. Ct., No. 24STCV24447, 9/20/24.