Peter Brand, the former head fencing coach at Harvard University, and Jie “Jack” Zhao, a telecommunications executive were arrested on Monday in connections to an alleged bribery scheme. According to the federal authorities, both men devised a financial scheme involving Harvard University’s fencing team.
What We Know:
- According to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Massachusetts, Brand and Zhao are facing charges of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery.
- Brand allegedly recruited Zhao’s two children into Harvard’s fencing program in exchange for securing admissions. Zhao provided $1.5 million in briberies. Brand’s home in Needham, southwest of Boston, was purchased by Zhao for $1 million which is $440,000 above its accessed value, according to NBC News.
- According to a criminal complaint filed with the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, 5 months after the sale of Brand’s home, Zhao’s younger son received a letter from Harvard stating he would likely be accepted as a fencing recruit.
- NBC News reported back in 2015 that Zhao allegedly made multiple payments to Brand covering school loans and tuition at Penn State University. Documents show that Zhao paid for Brand’s water sewer and mortgage bills, and gave him a $34,563 car loan. These payments coincide with the admission of Zhao’s oldest son to Harvard’s fencing program back in 2013.
- Zhao also contributed $1 million to a fencing charity which then sent $100,000 to a foundation that was recently created by Band and his wife.
- Brand was fired by Harvard in 2019 after the Boston Globe exposed the purchase of Brand’s home. The athletic director stated Brand violated the university’s conflict of interest policy.
- On Monday Brand’s lawyer gave a statement describing Zhao’s children as “academic and fencing stars” and mentioned that his client had done nothing wrong.
- Bill Weinreb, Zhao’s lawyer states that his client continues to deny the charges pending against him and “will vigorously contest them in court”.
Similar to Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman who were caught in the investigation known as Operation Varsity Blues where wealthy parents ensured placement for their children in elite schools. Although the charges against Brand and Zhao have no connection to that investigation, there are similarities.
