An ex-University of Southern California athletic administrator has pleaded guilty to conspiring to recruit fake athletes to universities in return for bribes.

The administrator, Donna Heinel, appeared in Boston federal court via video conference to enter the plea. This was less than two weeks before the case was due to go to trial. Operation Varsity Blues was an investigation that exposed William Singer, a corrupt consultant at private colleges, and found him working with wealthy parents to pay thousands in bribes to their children to get them into top universities.