Defendant in College Admissions Case to Plead Guilty

BOSTON – A former accountant and financial officer for the Edge College & Career Network and the Key Worldwide Foundation will plead guilty in connection with the college admissions case.

Steven Masera, 69, of Folsom, Calif., will plead guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering. Masera is cooperating with the government’s investigation. According to the terms of the plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence at the low end of the Guidelines, one year of supervised release, a fine, restitution and forfeiture.

A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court.

Case information, including the status of each defendant, charging documents and plea agreements are available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.

The charge of racketeering conspiracy provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen, Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie A. Wright, and Kristen A. Kearney of Lelling’s Securities and Financial Fraud Unit are prosecuting the cases.

The details contained in the court documents are allegations and the remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.