The architect of the largest U.S. college admissions fraud scheme ever uncovered was sentenced on Wednesday to 3-1/2 years in prison for helping wealthy parents secure the admission of their children to elite universities through cheating and bribery. William "Rick" Singer, a former college admissions consultant who played a key role as a cooperating witness in the "Operation Varsity Blues" investigation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rya Zobel in Boston.