WASHINGTON — Defense lawyers for former Georgetown tennis coach Gordon Ernst said authorities seized more than $1 million from his bank accounts, after prosecutors charged Ernst in the nation’s largest college admissions scandal.
In a federal court filing, Ernst’s attorneys said the indictment left the part time Chevy Chase resident in perilous financial straits – potentially unable to pay his essential living expenses and mounting legal bills.
Defense lawyers said the amount of time and energy needed to review the government’s evidence will likely be extensive, leading to questions of whether the former coach could afford his legal representation.
“Mr. Ernst’s legal fees and associated defense costs are therefore reasonably expected to exceed $250,000,” his lawyers said.
“Mr. Ernst has significant monthly living expenses that far exceed his family’s monthly income and for which his family is dependent on the seized funds to pay.”
The filing provided details of a fall from grace for the man who once led Georgetown’s tennis program and served as a personal coach for the Obama family.
Ernst’s current membership with Chevy Chase Country Club is now likely to end. Lawyers said the 52-year-old has tried to borrow money from friends and family to no avail.
Lawyers also raised the prospect of Ernst selling his Maryland home, but conceded the proceeds from the sale would not be enough to mount his legal defense.
Ernst’s attorneys are now asking a federal judge to unfreeze four of his financial accounts, in order to pay his immediate expenses.
Ernst faces one charge of racketeering conspiracy, accused of accepting more than $2.7 million in bribes between 2012 - 2018.
Prosecutors said Ernst accepted illicit payments in exchange for admitting at least 12 unqualified students to the Georgetown tennis team.
An affidavit from an FBI special agent accused Ernst of admitting multiple students with no record of competitive high school tennis at all.
Citing advice from counsel, Ernst declined to comment for this article.
Georgetown dismissed Ernst and his latest position with the University of Rhode Island ended – leaving him with no income.
“Mr. Ernst has not coached our tennis team since December 2017, when he was placed on leave after the Office of Undergraduate Admissions identified irregularities in his recruitment practices,” a Georgetown spokesperson said.
“The University was not aware of any alleged criminal activity or acceptance of bribes by Mr. Ernst until it was later contacted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with whom we fully cooperated in its investigation.”
But the university conceded its own internal investigation found Ernst indeed violated admissions rules, a conclusion reached months before March’s staggering college cheating indictments.
The alleged criminal conspiracy also involves actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, accused of bribery and cheating to secure places for their daughters at elite universities.