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(BOSTON) — A former Staples executive was sentenced on Friday for his role in the college admissions cheating scheme known as Varsity Blues, marking the end of a years-long case that has resulted in dozens of convictions.

John Wilson, 64, of Lynnfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced in federal court in Boston to one year of probation — with the first six months to be served in home detention — and 250 hours of community service, federal prosecutors said. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $75,000 and restitution in the amount of $88,546.

Wilson, a private equity investor, was found guilty in 2021 in the first trial stemming from the scheme. He was initially sentenced last year to 15 months in prison but appealed and most of the charges he was convicted of were subsequently dropped.

He was resentenced on Friday on the charge of filing a false tax return. Prosecutors said he falsely claimed payments he made to secure his son’s admission to the University of Southern California were deductible as a business expense and a charitable contribution.

According to prosecutors, Wilson agreed to pay scheme mastermind William “Rick” Singer $220,000 in 2013 to secure his son’s admission as a “purported water polo recruit.” Wilson’s attorneys argued the payment was a legitimate donation and that his case was “fundamentally different” from others in the Varsity Blues scandal. They also disputed prosecutors’ claims that Wilson’s son was an “alleged athlete,” calling it “categorically false,” while noting that his son played on USC’s water polo team during his freshman year.

“It was a terrible injustice to tarnish the Wilson family with the Varsity Blues accusations, and it is finally over,” Wilson’s attorney, Michael Kendall of White & Case LLP, said in a statement on Friday. “John Wilson did not commit fraud, he did not bribe any universities, and he did not partake in a grand conspiracy. His children were highly successful students who were qualified on their own merits.”

The sentencing decision “shows the tax count was more of a technical charge than anything else,” the statement continued.

Wilson expressed relief at the sentencing.

“After almost five years of being falsely accused and then wrongly convicted, my family and I are relieved to see our nightmare end,” Wilson said in a statement. “I have spent years defending my innocence and the reputations of my children. Today, it’s clear to all that I was telling the truth, I did not violate any laws or school policies.”

The sentencing marks the end of a years-long case brought by federal prosecutors in Boston that resulted in 51 convictions.

Actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin were among those who served prison time. They have since been released.

Singer was sentenced to 42 months in prison by a federal judge in January after pleading guilty.

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(ATLANTA, Ga.) — One of former President Donald Trump’s co-defendants charged in the Georgia election interference case is taking a plea deal in which he will agree to testify against others in the case.

Scott Hall appeared Friday in court for what Judge Scott McAfee said was a “negotiated resolution.”

The arrangement marks the first plea deal in the case.

As part of the deal, Hall pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with performance of election duties.

He will get probation and has agreed to testify moving forward, including at the trial of other co-defendants.

Asked if he understands this is a “negotiated plea,” Hall said, “I do.”

Hall, a Georgia bail bondsman, was charged in relation to the alleged breach of voting machine equipment in the wake of the 2020 election in Coffee County, Georgia.

During the hearing, the allegations surrounding the voting breach were laid out. It was said that Hall and several of his co-defendants “entered into a conspiracy to intentionally interfere” with the 2020 election results and that their goal was to “unlawfully” access voting machines in Coffee County in order to obtain data.

“The conspiracy also included obtaining images of ballots,” they said in court.

At the top of the hearing, Judge McAfee said this “was not a matter that had been scheduled today,” but that he was “informed by both parties that they would like to have an impromptu court hearing.”

Trump and 18 others pleaded not guilty to all charges in a sweeping racketeering indictment for alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state of Georgia.

The former president says his actions were not illegal and that the investigation is politically motivated.

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(LAS VEGAS) — Duane Keith Davis has been indicted on a murder charge in connection with the shooting of Tupac Shakur, who was killed during a drive-by in Las Vegas in 1996.

Davis was indicted on Thursday by a Clark County grand jury on one count of open murder with use of a deadly weapon with a gang enhancement, according to Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson. The suspect is expected to appear in court in the coming days.

The celebrated hip-hop artist was shot on Sept. 7, 1996, in Las Vegas and died in the hospital six days later from his injuries at the age of 25.

“For 27 years the family of Tupac Shakur has been waiting for justice,” Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said during a press briefing on Friday, adding that detectives spent “countless hours” on the homicide investigation.

Davis claims to be one of two living witnesses, along with former Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight, to the Vegas shooting that killed the rapper, according to a search warrant released by police.

A brawl that broke out between members and affiliates of two feuding Compton, California, gangs — Mob Piru and the South Side Compton Crips — just hours before the deadly drive-by led to the “retaliatory shooting” that killed Tupac, according to Lt. Jason Johansson.

Tupac, Knight and members of the Mob Piru gang had attended a Mike Tyson fight at the MGM Grand that was also attended by members of the South Side Compton Crips — including Davis, the gang’s “shot caller,” and his nephew Orlando Anderson — Johansson said. While leaving the fight, a brawl captured on hotel security footage broke out near the elevator bank, with Anderson kicked and punched.

“Duane Davis devised a plan to obtain a firearm and retaliate against Suge Knight and Tupac for what happened to Anderson,” Johansson said.

As Tupac was headed to an after-party in a black BMW driven by Knight, a white Cadillac pulled up alongside the car near the Strip and “immediately began shooting,” Johansson said. Davis, Anderson and two others — Terrence Brown and Deandre Smith- — were in the Cadillac, according to Johansson.

Investigators knew the incident involved out-of-town victims and suspects, but never had enough evidence to bring forward a criminal charge, Johansson said.

The case remained cold for decades until “reinvigorated” in 2018 when new information came to light — “specifically, Duane Davis’ own admissions to his involvement in this homicide investigation that he provided to numerous different media outlets,” Johansson said.

Police more recently conducted a nighttime search of Davis’ Las Vegas-area home in July in connection with the Tupac murder investigation.

Davis was taken into custody without incident early Friday morning while on a walk near his home where the search occurred, the official said.

Magazine articles about Tupac and his death were among the items seized by police from the Henderson home during the search, a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told ABC News. The search warrant listed a “copy of ‘Vibe magazine’ on Tupac” among the items seized.

Nearly 13 hours of body camera footage in the search were released in response to a public records request by ABC News. The video has been redacted — it goes black and silent — when SWAT team members are on private property, but otherwise shows the raid taking place and Davis — known as Keffe D or Keefy D — talking to police outside of his home.

Davis is the only living suspect in the homicide, according to Johansson, who noted that the charge of murder does not have a statute of limitations.

Anderson was shot and killed in a gang-related shooting in Los Angeles County in 1998.

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(NEW YORK) — A sea lion escaped from its pool at the Central Park Zoo on Friday amid the severe flooding that’s pounding New York City, officials said.

“Zoo staff monitored the sea lion as she explored the area before returning to the familiar surroundings of the pool and the company of the other two sea lions,” Jim Breheny, director of the Bronx Zoo and executive vice president of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Zoos and Aquarium, said in a statement.

The sea lion never beached the zoo’s secondary perimeter, Breheny said.

The water has since receded and the animals are safe in their exhibit, he said.

The zoo is closed on Friday due to the severe weather.

Flash flood warnings were issued across all five New York City boroughs on Friday as heavy rain hit the region.

Over 5.6 inches of rain was recorded in Central Park by Friday afternoon.

“If you are home, stay home,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said at a news conference. “We could possibly see 8 inches of rain before the day is over.”

The rain is expected to lighten up Friday night, but it won’t stop until Saturday.

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(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — More than 500,000 fast-food workers in California will soon earn at least $20 an hour as a result of a new bill signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Newsom joined labor leaders, legislators and fast-food workers in Los Angeles on Thursday, hailing the achievement as a result of the group effort to increase the state’s minimum wage for fast-food employees.

“California is home to more than 500,000 fast-food workers who for decades have been fighting for higher wages and better working conditions,” Newsom said. “Today, we take one step closer to fairer wages, safer and healthier working conditions, and better training by giving hardworking fast-food workers a stronger voice and seat at the table.”

The legislation, AB 1228, “authorized the Fast Food Council to set fast-food restaurant standards for minimum wage, and develop proposals for other working conditions, including health and safety standards and training,” a press release from Newsom’s office said.

The newly established Fast Food Council is comprised of a nine-person group that has two representatives from the fast-food industry, two franchisee or restaurant owners, two employee representatives, two employee advocates and one member of the public. The council was created to ensure that workers have a stronger say in setting minimum wages and working conditions, including health and safety standards.

“Today’s victory is just the beginning,” Ingrid Vilorio, a California fast-food worker and leader in the Fight for $15, said. “From day one of our movement, we have demanded a seat at the table so we could improve our pay and working conditions. This moment was built by every fast-food worker, both here in California and across the country, who has bravely gone on strike, exposed the issues in our industry and made bold demands of corporations that we knew could do better by their frontline workers. We now have the power to win transformational changes for every fast-food cook, cashier and barista in our state. We hope that what we win here shows workers in other industries and other states that when we fight, we win!”

Starting April 1, 2024, the minimum wage for the state’s 500,000 fast-food workers will increase to $20 per hour. The average hourly wage in 2022 was $16.21.

The new law allows the council to increase the minimum wage annually from 2025 through 2029, but it cannot exceed a 3.5% increase or the annual change in the Consumer Price Index, a measurement set by the Bureau of Labor statistics on average prices of goods and urban wage earners.

It will also “allow the council to develop and propose other labor, health or safety standards for rule-making by the appropriate body,” the release from Newsom’s office said.

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(LAS VEGAS) — A suspect was arrested Friday morning in connection with the murder of Tupac Shakur, who was shot and killed during a drive-by in Las Vegas in 1996, a senior law enforcement official confirmed to ABC News.

The suspect is currently in the process of being booked, the official said. The charges are expected to be announced as soon as Friday afternoon.

The celebrated hip-hop artist was shot on Sept. 7, 1996, in Las Vegas and died in the hospital six days later from his injuries at the age of 25.

The case remained cold for decades, before an apparent break over the summer. Police conducted a nighttime search of a Las Vegas-area home in July in connection with the Tupac murder investigation.

The suspect was taken into custody without incident early Friday morning while on a walk near his home where the search occurred, the official said.

Magazine articles about Tupac and his death were among the items seized by police from the Henderson home during the search, a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told ABC News. The search warrant listed a “copy of ‘Vibe magazine’ on Tupac” among the items seized.

Nearly 13 hours of body camera footage in the search were released in response to a public records request by ABC News. The video has been redacted — it goes black and silent — when SWAT team members are on private property, but otherwise shows the raid taking place and the homeowner — Duane Keith Davis, known as Keffe D or Keefy D — talking to police outside of his home.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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(NEW YORK) — A 3-year-old boy has been shot and killed while in the car with his mother and brother in Cleveland, authorities said.

An adult man — who was not in the car — was also shot in the Thursday afternoon incident, Cleveland police said. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Several persons of interest have been detained, police said Friday, noting that the investigation is ongoing.

The 3-year-old’s “heartbreaking” killing “is another reminder that we must come together as a city, state and nation to address this violence and its root causes,” Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb said in a statement.

Last year, at least 6,152 children were killed or injured in shootings in the U.S., according to the Gun Violence Archive.

“No words can adequately express the pain and the sorrow of this tragedy. In the face of this loss, I ask the community to come together to support this family and to reaffirm our commitment to a safer city,” Bibb said. “We will not rest until those responsible are held accountable and brought to justice.”

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(NEW YORK) — Fatal shooting deaths among children and teens continue to climb this year amid a series of recent gun violence incidents involving youths.

So far this year, 229 children under the age of 11 and 1,082 teenagers have been killed by gun violence, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

The tally of injured includes 515 children and 3,025 teens.

A 3-year-old boy was shot and killed while in the car with his mother and brother in Cleveland, Ohio, authorities said.

An adult man who was not in the car was also shot in the Thursday afternoon incident and he suffered non-life-threatening injuries, Cleveland police said.

Several persons of interest have been detained, police said Friday. The investigation is ongoing, police said.

Three teens who were killed in a Sept. 24 shooting in Columbia, South Carolina, have been identified as 16-year-old Jakobe Fanning, 17-year-old Dre’Von Riley and 16-year-old Caleb Wise, the sheriff’s office said.

Two 17-year-old boys and a 14-year-old boy have been arrested for three counts of murder, attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and possession of handgun under the age of 18, according to local officials.

A 2-year-old girl was killed in a drive-by shooting in Dallas, Texas, on Sept. 24 alongside an older woman who is not related to the child, according to ABC affiliate WFAA. Both the toddler and the woman were taken to the hospital, where the toddler was pronounced dead.

“My grandbaby ain’t your target. So why does she have to die? Like, why would you shoot a 2-year-old,” Zyah’s maternal step-grandmother, Deborah Harper Smith, told the local news outlet.

Five victims were transported to local hospitals for their injuries following a mass shooting on Sept. 23, according to a press release from police in Chesapeake, Virginia.

A 14-year-old is dead after succumbing to his injuries from the shooting. Four others were also injured, according to police. The other victims were identified as two male juveniles and two adult males.

ABC News’ Emily Shapiro contributed to this report.

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(NEW YORK) — The New York City area is facing major flooding as heavy rain slams New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency as the rainfall rate reaches 1 to 2 inches per hour.

Flash flood warnings were issued in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island and Long Island on Friday morning.

Brooklyn is buried under 6 inches of rain while Central Park has seen more than 4 inches of rainfall so far.

New York City emergency officials also issued a travel advisory.

All flights to New York City’s LaGuardia Airport have been put on hold due to the heavy rain. The Federal Aviation Administration said the airport’s fueling area and the nearby access roads are flooded.

Subways have “only extremely limited” service available, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said, and Amtrak is telling customers to prepare for delays on trains in and out of New York City.

In New York City, the heaviest rain will fall from Friday morning through Friday evening.

By Friday night, the rain will lighten up. Showers may continue Saturday morning, but the rain will move out of the Northeast by Saturday afternoon.

ABC News’ Sam Sweeney contributed to this report.

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(NEW YORK) — The New York City area is bracing for major flooding as heavy rain slams New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

In New York City, the heaviest rain will fall from Friday morning through Friday evening.

The rainfall rate has already reached 1 to 2 inches per hour.

Flash flood warnings were issued in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island on Friday morning.

New York City emergency officials also issued a travel advisory.

Subways are seeing “major disruptions,” especially in Brooklyn, the MTA said.

New York City could see up to 5 inches of rainfall. Totals could surpass 6 inches in parts of New Jersey, Long Island, Connecticut and New York’s Hudson Valley.

By the Friday morning rush hour, over 3 inches of rain had already been recorded at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

By Friday night, the rain will lighten up. Showers may continue Saturday morning, but the rain will move out of the Northeast by Saturday afternoon.

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