CrimeMore parents under scrutiny by prosecutors in college admissions scandal

© EPA / Shutterstock / AP / Getty Images / Los Angeles Times Dozens of celebrities and high-profile people have been caught up in the college admissions scandal. (EPA / Shutterstock / AP / Getty Images / Los Angeles Times)

As the college admissions scandal investigation widens, more parents are coming under scrutiny.

Sources familiar with the investigation but not authorized to discuss it say several parents and their attorneys have been informed they are the subject of the federal inquiry.

Outrage over tax breaks for parents in college admissions scandal sparks calls for change

LOS ANGELES - Tax breaks resulting from charitable donations to universities and colleges could be receiving new scrutiny in Washington after the largest admissions cheating scandal in U.S. history. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said he would seek to ban deductions for donations to schools such as USC, UCLA and others. 

More than 750 parents used self-described “master coach” William “Rick” Singer’s services, according to prosecutors.

While 33 have been charged, the sources say prosecutors have sent subpoenas to high schools in Southern California with names of students whose parents have not been charged — which suggests authorities are preparing to expand the number of prosecutions.

Some of the parents charged earlier this month are under pressure to cooperate with authorities and potentially offer more evidence. One source said some of the parents are being given a short window to consider a deal or potentially face additional charges.

Full coverage: Dozens charged — including Hollywood actresses — in connection with college admissions scheme »

Students tied to U.S. college admissions scandal could face expulsion

Students tied to U.S. college admissions scandal could face expulsion

The scheme, which began in 2011, centered on a Newport Beach college placement firm run by Singer. Wealthy parents are accused of paying Singer to help their children cheat on college entrance exams and to falsify athletic records of students to enable them to secure admission to elite schools, including UCLA, USC, Stanford, Yale and Georgetown, court records show.

Prosecutors allege that Singer instructed parents to donate funds to a fake charity he had established as part of the scheme. Most of the parents paid at least $200,000, but some spent up to $6.5 million to guarantee their children admission to top universities, authorities said. Parents were then able to deduct the donation from their income taxes, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

The scheme itself was fairly simple, prosecutors said: Singer instructed parents to seek extended time for their children on ACT and SAT exams. In at least one instance, a student claimed to have a learning disability to obtain medical documentation required by the College Board and ACT Inc. to grant additional time on the tests, according to court documents.

College admissions scandal generated disgust and outrage. But what exactly was the crime? »