Former URI Tennis Coach Facing New Charges In Cheating Scandal

BOSTON, MA — A former University of Rhode Island tennis coach was again indicted in the ongoing Operation Varsity Blues college admissions cheating scandal on Wednesday. Gordon Ernst was indicted on more than a dozen additional charges in federal court in Boston along with six other university athletic officials.

Ernst was indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, aiding and abetting wire fraud, aiding and abetting mail fraud and aiding and abetting money laundering. Arraignment dates have not yet been set for him or the other defendants.

Ernst was previously indicted for one count of racketeering on March 5. At the time, he was the women's tennis coach at the University of Rhode Island. The university announced his resignation on March 23.

The charges come from Ernst's time at Georgetown University, where he served as head coach. He is accused of accepting more than $2.7 million in bribes to falsely designate 12 applicants as athletic recruits, the Associated Press previously reported.

On Tuesday, actress Lori Loughlin and other high-profile parents also faced additional charges in the ongoing scandal.

If convicted, Ernst could face decades in prison, with each racketeering, conspiracy and fraud charge carrying maximum sentences of 20 years.