Former casino executive Gamal “Aziz” Abdelaziz has been found guilty by a Boston federal jury of bribing his daughter’s way into the University of Southern California.
Aziz, who held C-suite positions at Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts and Wynn Resorts, was convicted of paying a $300,000 bribe to have his daughter falsely recruited into the university’s women’s basketball program.
His case was part of the so-called “Operation Varsity Blues” college admissions scandal. Rick Singer pleaded guilty in 2019 of masterminding the illegal college admissions network, in which several wealthy parents paid bribes to college admissions officials in exchange for falsely recruiting their children for athletics programs.
Aziz’s attorneys unsuccessfully argued that he was a victim of Singer who thought he was making a philanthropic donation to USC. Singer himself, who is cooperating with authorities as he awaits sentencing in the scandal, provided evidence in the dorm of a recorded phone call that Aziz knew exactly what the money was or.
The jury found Aziz guilty of fraud and bribery conspiracy charges. He faces substantial prison time when sentenced in February. His lawyers are expected to appeal the verdict.
