Greenwich resident Gordon Caplan, co-chairman of New York City law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher, has been placed on leave following revelations that he paid $75,000 to have his daughter”™s college test score fixed ”“ part of the same college admissions scandal that ensnared celebrities Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin.
The firm said that Caplan would have no further management responsibilities at Willkie. Caplan”™s biography on the Willkie website has been taken down.
“This is a personal matter and does not involve Willkie or any of its clients,” the firm said. “In light of the seriousness of the matter, Mr. Caplan has been placed on a leave of absence from the firm and will have no further firm management responsibilities. The firm will continue to be managed by its chairmen, Steven Gartner and Thomas Cerabino, and its executive committee. Our focus remains on our responsibilities to our clients, partners and employees.”
Caplan was released on a $500,000 bond following his initial court appearance on charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney”™s Office for the District of Massachusetts. He is due back in Boston federal court on March 29.
According to court documents, Caplan can be heard on federal wiretaps discussing with William “Rick” Singer, the central figure in the case, the particulars of paying to have his daughter”™s test scores adjusted by a test proctor before they were submitted.
A voice identified as Caplan’s can be heard saying: “Keep in mind I am a lawyer”; “I am sort of rules-oriented”; “Doing this with you”¦ there”™s no way any trouble comes out of this, nothing like that?”; and “I”™m not worried about the moral issue here. I”™m worried”¦ if she gets caught, she”™s finished.”
Conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Federal prosecutors have brought charges against 50 people in the scandal, in which the parents allegedly involved collectively stand accused of paying about $25 million to help their children gain admission at such institutions as Yale, Stanford, Georgetown and USC.
This week, the whole world learned the truth about Gordon Caplan’s character – or lack thereof. I have known this for 17 years. I wonder how many people he has ruined, bullied and cheated in the process of climbing the ladder. He is the best testament to his MO, and his transparency is moving: “to be honest I don’t care about the moral issue†– what amazing legacy to his children, what superb parenting skills, what an ideal member of society!
Disabled children who really need additional time for these tests will probably be impacted by his actions, but who cares, they are not in the top of the pyramid. Gordon leaves a legacy of arrogance, shame and despicable behavior. He’s failed his family, he’s failed society. He’s a loser and a scumbag in an Armani suit.
What else has he done?? Spill the tea!!
Angela,
You’re holding back on how you feel about
Gordo, tell us how you really feel
2 years ago we were in a settlement discussion with Caplan. The discussions were not going how he wanted and I was getting under his skin. Gordo got upset, threatened me and charged around the table trying to fight me. Not a single day goes by where I dont regret not beating his ass into the carpet.
He is a scumbag, this is oy the tip of how rotten he is…
Who is anyone to judge other people on decisions they made (good or bad) about their children? This past week has been a witch hunt regarding these parents who have kids who are at an age where they are very impressionable and maybe can’t see anything getting better and possibly trying to harm themselves. We have all done things in our lives which we are not proud of or maybe even illegal but enough is enough. Stop with the bullying of the parents and the kids. There are way more important things going on like terrorism, wars, genocide, women’s rights, another presidential election and just life in general. The parents were entrapped by the government and scammed by the ringleader. ENOUGH. Woulda, coulda, shoulda NO ONE CARES.
Hi, Gordon.
Sorry to disappoint—he’s not me. Just a person living my little life in Boston, MA. I’ve had different struggles with my son, thank God all is good now but I don’t judge anyone regarding parenting decisions. These people are innocent until proven guilty. Live and let live, no ones life is perfect and no one knows a persons struggles. I am a supporter of all the parents, the bad dude is the rat Singer and the other rat is the CA dad who sold his own daughter out for his pump and dump crimes to save his own ass from a harsher sentence. Shame on them not parents who were scammed. Can you imagine selling your own kid put—not where I come from, shame on him.