EAGER TO PAY HIM TOTAKE THEIR KIDSCOLLEGE ENTRANCEEXAMS... PLEADEDGUILTY IN FEDERALCOURT JUST A FEWHOURS AGO.FOX 4 INVESTIGATIVEREPORTER KATIELAGRONE ... WAS THEFIRST TO SHARE MARKRIDDELL'S PUBLICAPOLOGY LAST MONTH.SHE JOIN US NOW WITHHIS DAY IN COURT,KATIE?NEITHER MARK RIDDELLOR HIS TAMPAATTORNEY ADDRESSEDTHE MEDIA THISAFTERNOON...BUT FORTHE FIRST TIME, THE 36YEAR OLD FESSED UPTO A FEDERAL JUDGEABOUT THE KEY ROLEHE PLAYED IN THECOLLEGE CHEATINGSCAM HEARD AROUNDTHE WORLD.WITH HIS ATTORNEY BYHIS SIDE, THE FLORIDABRAINIAC WHOSENATURAL BRILLIANCEWASN'T ENOUGH TOOUTSMART THE FEDS,LOOKED STUDIOUS ANDACADEMIC WALKINGINTO FEDERAL COURT INBOSTON TO PLEADGUILTY FOR HIS ROLE INTHE NOW INFAMOUSCOLLEGE ADMISSIONCHEATING SCANDAL.MARK RIDDELL, A 36-YEAR OLD PALMETTOMAN AND FORMERDIRECTOR OF COLLEGEENTRANCE EXAMS ATTHE PRESTIGIOUS IMGACADEMY INBRADENTON ISCHARGED WITHCONSPIRACY TOCOMMIT MAIL FRAUDAND HONEST SERVICESMAIL FRAUD ANDCONSPIRACY TOCOMMIT MONEYLAUNDERING THECHARGES-- THE RESULTOF HELPING RICHPARENTS CHEAT THEIRCHILDREN'S WAY INTOSOME OF THE MOSTCOMPETITIVECOLLEGES.Joe Bonavolonta, SpecialAgent In Charge, FBIBoston "We believe all ofthem, parents, coaches,and facilitators lied,cheated, and covered uptheir crimes at the expenseof hard-working studentsand tax payerseverywhere." ACCORDINGTO FEDERALRECORDS...SINCE 2011,RIDDELL, A HARVARDGRADUATE...SERVED ASTHE SCHEME'S EINSTEINTEST-TAKER...SECRETLYTAKING COLLEGEADMISSIONS TESTS FORWEALTHY KIDS ORCORRECTING THEIRANSWERS TO ENSUREADMISSION WORTHYSCORES.

IN ONE CASECITED IN COURTDOCUMENTS, RIDDELLFLEW FROM TAMPA TOHOUSTON TO TAKE THEA-C-T FOR A STUDENTWHO BECAME SICK.RIDDELL,PROSECUTORS SAY,COMPLETED THE EXAMIN HIS HOTEL ROOM ANDEVEN CORRECTLYPREDICTED HIS FINALSCORE.U.S. Attorney AndrewLelling, District ofMasssachusettes "he didnot have inside informationabout the correct answers,he was just smart enoughto get a near perfect scoreon demand" RIDDELL'SMIND...A REAL MONEY-MAKER SAY THEFEDS...EACH TESTEARNED HIM A TENTHOUSAND DOLLARCUT.

IN A STATEMENTWE WERE FIRST TORELEASE LAST MONTH--RIDDELL SAID HE WAS"profoundly sorry for thedamage i have done andgrief i have caused..."AS PART OF A PLEAAGREEMENT,PROSECUTORS ARERECOMMENDING HESPEND 33 MONTHS ONSUPERVISED RELEASE-AND PAY A NEARLY $250-THOUSAND FINE, THEAMOUNT, HE EARNEDFROM HIS CRIMES.

AJUDGE WILL MAKE THEFINAL DECISION WHENRIDDELL IS SENTENCEDIN JULY.

KATIE LAGRONETAG OUT.PROTECTING PARADISEMEANS KEEPING YOUINFORMED ON ISS