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Authorities busted an SAT cheating scheme yesterday at Great Neck North High School in which students paid a recent grad thousands of dollars to assume their identities, take the test and deliver high scores.
Officials identified the bogus test-taker as Sam Eshaghoff of Great Neck. Eshaghoff, 19, was arrested yesterday and charged with first-degree scheme to defraud, first-degree falsifying business records and second-degree criminal impersonation. He faces four years in prison.
Also arrested yesterday were six current and former students, all from Great Neck, who officials say hired Eshaghoff. They face misdemeanor charges and a year in jail. The six were younger than 19 when the phony testing took place and prosecutors declined to identify them.
Prosecutors said investigations are under way into whether SAT cheating occurred at other area high schools and whether Eshaghoff took tests for students at other schools.
"These are serious allegations," said Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice. "There's no level playing field when students are paying someone they know will get them a premier score when other kids are doing it the fair way and the honest way."
College and university admissions have become increasingly competitive. High SAT scores - perfect is 2400 - are sought after. The lowest score Eshaghoff got for his clients was 2140 and the highest 2220. The average score nationwide last year: 1509.
After graduating in 2010 from Great Neck North, Eshaghoff enrolled as a freshman...