(Image Source: WNYW)
BY ERIK SHUTE AND NATHAN GIANINNI
ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN
Twelve young adults surrendered to police on Tuesday in connection with the SAT cheating scandal hitting multiple Long Island high schools.
Nine students and three young adults -- accused of posing as students to take the college entrance exam for money -- sums ranging from $500 to $3,5000. A fourth man is expected to surrender on Monday.
That takes the total to 20, after seven were arrested back in September. ABC News explains how administrators caught on to the scam.
“This all came to light when administrators at the Great Neck school district uncovered discrepancies between certain student’s SAT scores and the comparatively poor academic performance they turned in, in school. In the end the investigators uncovered what they described as a ‘sophisticated scam.’”
New York’s Fox affiliate WNYW spoke to a former assistant district attorney who explained: there’s a difference between the test-payers and the test-takers.
“Well the kids who simply paid individuals to take the test for them are facing misdemeanor charges. But the kids who took the tests for money are facing some fairly serious felony charges, including a scheme to fraud, perhaps forgery, criminal impersonation. They could actually be exposed to a number of years in state prison.”
One of those who could be facing the harshest penalties is Sam Eshaghoff, who’s accused of charging students between $1,500 and $2,500 to take the test. But private investigator Les Levine and Eshagoff’s defense attorney say some of the blame should lie with the ETS. (WABC)
LAVINE: “The truth of the matter is the fault lies with the ETS. They didn’t do their job...”
REPORTER: “His lawyer and Levine arguing the system was ripe for abuse.”
WNBC spoke to three high school students who say -- the pressures of college applications are driving students to cheat.
Reporter: “But high school students didn’t seem surprised, saying it is easy for students to cheat.”
Student: “People are making fake IDs to impersonate people and the person who’s checking is taking a quick two second glance and says ‘sit down’, so it seems too easy.
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WNBC also reports, a risk management firm has been hired to review security procedures surround the exam.
