A rapper, whose parents were among the dozens charged in an allegedcollege admissions cheating scamearlier this week, is speaking out in defense of his family.
On Thursday, Malcolm Abbott — also known as Billa B, son of Gregory and Marcia Abbott spoke to reporters, while smoking a blunt, about the scandal right outside of his Fifth Avenue apartment building in New York City.
Gregory is the founder and chairman of food and beverage distributor company, International Dispensing Corp.
“They’re blowing this whole thing out of proportion,” Malcolmtold the New York Post, assumably in reference to the FBI.
“I believe everyone has a right to go to college, man.”
David McGlynn
During the eccentric interview, Malcolm admitted, “I didn’t go to college,” and tried to promote his latest CD.
“Check out my CD,Cheese and Crackers,” Malcolm said of the project, which features a song titled “If I Lost My Money.”
Federal court records unsealed in Boston name 50 people who have been indicted as part of the alleged nationwide scheme involving elite college and universities including Yale, Georgetown, the University of Southern California and Stanford, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.
Athletic coaches from Yale, Stanford, USC, Wake Forest and Georgetown, were also implicated.
Both Gregory and Marcia have been charged withconspiracy to commit mail fraudand honest services mail fraud.
Gregory Abbott.Bebeto Matthews/AP/REX/Shutterstock
The parents are accused of paying owner of the Key Worldwide Foundation and Edge College & Career Network William Rick Singer $125,000 to have a proctor overseeing their daughter’s ACT “correct her answers after she had completed it,” according to court documents.
The Abbotts’ daughter received a score of 35 out of 36 on the ACT, according to court documents.
Both parents were released on a $500,000 bond and are set to appear in court again on March 29.
High-profile actressesLori LoughlinandFelicity Huffmanwere also charged.
From left: Olivia Jade Giannulli, Lori Loughlin and Isabella Rose Giannulli.Gabriel Olsen/Getty
On Wednesday, Loughlin, 54, appeared before a judge — just hours after she was taken into custody.
TheFull Housestar made her first appearance in federal court in Los Angeles where a judge set her bond at $1 million,according to the Associated Press. The actress faces a felony charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.
Loughlin is permitted to travel to British Columbia, where she has filming projects in Vancouver, but must surrender her passport in December.
Mossimo Giannulli and Lori Loughlin.Donato Sardella/Getty Images for LACMA
An attorney for Loughlin did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. A representative for Loughlin had no comment.
The mother of two and husband, Mossimo founder Mossimo Giannulliaallegedly gave $500,000to get a coach to say her daughterOlivia Jadewas part of the rowing team when that was not true, the indictment states.
The couple’s 19-year-old daughter, who is a freshman, is not currently listed on the USCwomen’s rowing roster.
Giannulli appeared in federal court on Tuesday and was released after posting a $1 million bond.
William H. Macy, Georgia Macy, Felicity Huffman, Sophia Macy.Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty
She was also ordered to hand over her passport.
Macy was not charged in the scandal, theShamelessstar is instead identified only as “her spouse” in the document.
The actresses’ next preliminary hearings are scheduled for March 29 at a Boston court.
source: people.com
