For more than a week, the 33 parents accused of trying to get their children into some of the nation's top universities through schemes of fraud and bribes have been appearing in federal court for preliminary hearings. Reporters mobbed the courthouse in Boston on April 3, as actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman made their first appearances. At least five parents are close to agreeing to plead guilty after negotiations with the Justice Department. Stanford University expelled a student who was allegedly admitted after his parents paid $500,000 to the school's sailing coach. (Stanford fired the coach and he has been indicted.)
And the scandal, nicknamed "Operation Varsity Blues" by the FBI, has impacted one of the best-known families of California's wine industry. Agustin Huneeus Jr. has stepped down as CEO of his family's company, Huneeus Vintners, handing the job off to his father, Agustin Sr., 85.
Huneeus Jr., 53, stands accused of paying $50,000 to college counselor William Singer to have a proctor improve his daughter's SAT score by correcting some of her answers. A criminal complaint filed by the FBI also alleges that Huneeus agreed to pay both Singer's foundation and a coach at the University of Southern California (USC) a total of $250,000 to secure his daughter a spot on the school's water polo team, even though she was not a top athlete and with the understanding she would not have to play.
"To ensure smooth operations of Huneeus Vintners, Agustin Huneeus Sr., founder of Huneeus Vintners and Quintessa, has been appointed to represent the family's interest in Huneeus Vintners. Agustin Francisco Huneeus Jr. has stepped down from his position," Leslie Sullivan, estates director for the company, told Wine Spectator via email.
Huneeus Vintners was founded by Agustin Sr. and his wife, Valeria. Agustin Sr. built the Chilean winery Concha y Toro into an international success before immigrating to the United States during political unrest and creating a small empire around Franciscan Winery.
Stay on top of important wine stories with Wine Spectator's free Breaking News Alerts.
Huneeus Jr. has been just as ambitious. After his father sold Franciscan to Constellation Brands in 1999, the son stayed on board, eventually becoming chief executive of Constellation's fine-wine division. He's known for his intelligence, drive and brashness.
The family had held onto Quintessa Vineyard, which became the foundation of their new enterprise, Huneeus Vintners. Today the company also owns Faust, Flowers Vineyards and Winery in Sonoma and Benton Lane in Oregon. Their biggest splash came when they bought The Prisoner wine brand from Dave Phinney in 2010, expanded it, and then sold it in 2016 to Constellation for $285 million.
Huneeus Jr. faces charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. Both the federal government and the state of California could potentially revoke the licenses of Huneeus Vintners' wineries if a convicted felon is in an executive position. Arrested March 12, Huneeus Jr. is out on $1 million bail while the case proceeds.
