Sam Eshaghoff Explained

Sam Eshaghoff
Birth Name:Samuel Ezra Eshaghoff
Birth Date:30 July 1992
Birth Place:Great Neck, New York, U.S.
Education:New York University Stern School of Business (MBA)
Zicklin School of Business (BBA)
Occupation:Real estate developer

Sam Eshaghoff (/'eʃæɡɑf/; born July 30, 1992) is an American real estate developer and former professional test-taker. He is the Managing Principal of West Egg Development, a New York-based real estate development and investment company.[1] In 2011, he was charged with impersonation and related crimes in connection with charging students to take standardized tests on their behalf.[2] [3] His operations caused the College Board and the Educational Testing Service to reform the way that standardized tests are secured and administered.[4] [5]

Early life

Eshaghoff was born in Great Neck, New York to an Iranian Jewish family.[6] [7] His father Roland Eshaghoff is a home renovator and his mother Janet Esagoff is a real estate attorney.[8] He was raised in Great Neck and attended John L. Miller Great Neck North High School.[9] He attended the University of Michigan,[10] later transferring to Emory University.[11] He ultimately earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Zicklin School of Business in New York, majoring in finance and real estate. He later attended the New York University Stern School of Business.[12]

Test taking

Eshaghoff was discovered to have been operating a test-taking enterprise[13] while in high school whereby he charged students to take standardized tests, including the SAT and ACT, on their behalf.[14] Reports estimate that Eshaghoff had taken standardized tests for between 7[15] and 20[16] students, charging between $1,500[17] and $3,600[18] per exam. Eshaghoff consistently scored in the 97th percentile or better.[19]

Eshaghoff was arrested and charged by the district attorney of Nassau County for impersonation and falsification of business documents.[20] He was caught after prosecutors and ETS worked with school officials to compare students' SAT scores with their grade point averages, and conduct handwriting analyses.[21] Eshaghoff was represented by Long Island attorney Matin Emouna.[22]

Aftermath

Eshaghoff and the district attorney’s office agreed to conditionally discharge the case. Eshaghoff withdrew his attendance from Emory University.

Community Service

As a condition of his discharge, Eshaghoff was required to perform substantial community service[23] in tutoring underprivileged students.[24] This tutoring included teaching SAT test-taking strategies to low-income students. He tutored in an Educational Alliance program at the Manny Cantor Center, located in the Lower East Side of New York City.[25] He volunteers and educates underserved communities at The Brooklyn Bank, a nonprofit organization in Brooklyn.[26] He is the organization's Chairman and President of the Board.[27]

Test Reform

In response to Eshaghoff's operation,[28] [29] the College Board and ETS were forced to make radical changes to the administration and security of the SAT exam.[30] The College Board hired former FBI Director Louis Freeh[31] to oversee test security[32] and make substantial changes to test administration nationwide,[33] [34] including a requirement that students upload photos of themselves into a database[35] and regulations on the types of permitted identification.[36] The ACT exam, administered by ACT Education also underwent a major security reform.[37] The College Board also began providing law enforcement and government agencies the names of people believed to be engaged in cheating.[38] They have also considered alerting schools when test takers will be coming from other school districts[39] and reducing the number of times the test is administered overseas.[40] The announcement was made at a hearing of the New York State Senate's subcommittee on higher education, and Eshaghoff's methods specifically influenced the new legislation.[41] [42] The College Board has twice since made reforms[43] [44] to improve test integrity.

Media

Eshaghoff was interviewed for CBS’s 60 Minutes[45] in an episode titled "The Perfect Score: Cheating on the SAT".[46] The segment featured Kurt Landgraf, who was the President of the Educational Testing Service at the time,[47] and Kathleen Rice, who was the District Attorney at the time. The interview was conducted by Alison Stewart.[48]

In 2013, the Lifetime network aired The Cheating Pact, a television film based on Eshaghoff's story,[49] starring Daniela Bobadilla, Laura Ashley Samuels, Laura Slade Wiggins, Max Carver, and Cynthia Gibb.

Real estate

Eshaghoff is the founder and Managing Principal of West Egg Development, a New York-based real estate development and investment manager. His firm is involved in projects in the Greater New York City area.[50] His works include:

Recognition

Notes and References

  1. Web site: West Egg Development. West Egg Development. en-US. 2019-03-25.
  2. News: 7 students arrested in SAT cheating scheme. 2011-09-28. msnbc.com. 2018-11-03. en.
  3. Web site: SAT Cheating Ring Busted in New York. 2011-09-27. ABC News. en. 2018-11-03.
  4. Web site: After Arrest, a Wider Inquiry on SAT Cheating. Anderson. Jenny. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. en. 2019-02-26.
  5. News: SAT Officials Vow Tighter Test Security After Arrests. Hu. Winnie. 2011-10-25. The New York Times. 2019-02-26. Anderson. Jenny. en-US. 0362-4331.
  6. Web site: 2020 Ones to Watch: Sam Eshaghoff, West Egg Development.
  7. Web site: Long Island Eye: The SAT Cheating Scandal Grows. . 19 November 2011 .
  8. Web site: Esagoff Law Group. esagofflawgroup.com. en-US. 2018-11-03.
  9. News: 7 Long Island Students Charged in SAT Fraud Scheme. The New York Times . 28 September 2011 . Associated Press. 2018-11-03. en.
  10. News: On Long Island, SAT Cheating Was Hardly a Secret. Applebome. Jenny Anderson and Peter. The New York Times . 2 December 2011 . 2018-11-03. en.
  11. News: Sam Eshaghoff, Emory University Student, Allegedly Took SAT For Other Students. 2011-09-27. Huffington Post. 2018-11-03. en-US.
  12. Web site: Kriyana . Reddy . Not All Chinese Are ‘Wealthy Cheats' . 2023-09-05 . The Ledger . en-US.
  13. News: N.Y. Authorities Arrest Seven Accused Of Running SAT Cheating Ring. NPR.org. 2018-11-03. en.
  14. News: On Long Island, SAT Cheating Was Hardly a Secret. Jenny . Anderson . Peter . Applebome . The New York Times . 2 December 2011 . 2018-11-03. en.
  15. News: 7 Arrested in Long Island SAT Cheating Ring. NBC New York. 2018-11-03. en.
  16. News: Two more surrender, making 20 arrests in SAT/ACT scandal. Sgueglia. Kristina. CNN. 2018-11-03.
  17. News: 'Hire' ed. cheating scandal. 2011-09-28. New York Post. 2018-11-03. en-US.
  18. News: On Long Island, SAT Cheating Was Hardly a Secret. Applebome. Jenny Anderson and Peter. The New York Times . 2 December 2011 . 2018-11-03. en.
  19. News: After Arrest, a Wider Inquiry on SAT Cheating. Anderson. Jenny. The New York Times . 30 September 2011 . 2018-11-03. en.
  20. Web site: SAT Cheating Ring Widens. 2011-11-21. ABC News. en. 2018-11-03.
  21. News: On Long Island, SAT Cheating Was Hardly a Secret. Anderson. Jenny. 2011-12-01. The New York Times. 2019-02-26. Applebome. Peter. en-US. 0362-4331.
  22. News: Suspect in SAT scandal on '60 Minutes'. Newsday. 2018-11-03. en.
  23. News: Boasting may impact punishment in SAT case . en . Newsday . 2018-11-03.
  24. News: Jenny . Anderson . Peter . Applebome . 2 December 2011 . On Long Island, SAT Cheating Was Hardly a Secret . en . The New York Times . 2018-11-03.
  25. Web site: https://twitter.com/SamEshaghoff/status/834124844295938049 . 2023-09-05 . X (formerly Twitter) . en.
  26. Web site: NYREJ : The commercial real estate media source. . 2023-09-05 . nyrej.com.
  27. Web site: Leadership . 2023-09-05 . Brooklynbank . en.
  28. News: More Students Charged in Long Island SAT Cheating Case. Jenny . Anderson . Winnie . Hu . The New York Times . 23 November 2011 . 2018-11-03. en.
  29. News: More Arrests Reportedly Imminent in New York SAT Cheating Scandal. 2015-03-26. Fox News. 2018-11-03. en-US.
  30. News: SAT Officials Vow Tighter Test Security After Arrests. Hu. Winnie. 2011-10-25. The New York Times. 2019-02-26. Anderson. Jenny. en-US. 0362-4331.
  31. News: SAT Officials Vow Tighter Test Security After Arrests. Anderson. Winnie Hu and Jenny. The New York Times . 26 October 2011 . 2018-11-03. en.
  32. News: SAT officials: Former FBI boss to review security. Eltman. Frank. 2011-10-25. Boston.com. 2019-02-26.
  33. Web site: New SAT Security After Cheating Ring. 2012-03-27. ABC News. en. 2018-11-03.
  34. News: After Cheating Scandal, SAT and ACT Will Tighten Security. Anderson. Jenny. 2012-03-27. The New York Times. 2019-02-26. en-US. 0362-4331.
  35. Web site: New SAT Security After Cheating Ring. 2012-03-27. ABC News. en. 2018-11-03.
  36. Web site: 11 Surrender in SAT Cheating Ring. 2011-11-22. ABC News. en. 2019-02-26.
  37. Web site: New SAT Security Changes After N.Y. Cheating Ring. 2012-03-27. ABC News. en. 2019-02-26.
  38. Web site: Kids in Asia have an unfair advantage on the SAT. New security won't help, critics say. miamiherald. en. 2019-02-26.
  39. Web site: After Arrest, a Wider Inquiry on SAT Cheating. Anderson. Jenny. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. en. 2019-02-26.
  40. Web site: Kids in Asia have an unfair advantage on the SAT. New security won't help, critics say. miamiherald. en. 2019-02-26.
  41. Web site: SAT officials say former FBI chief to examine security procedures after NY cheating scandal. www.freehgroup.com. 2019-02-26.
  42. Web site: SAT Security To Be Heightened; Testing Services Grilled At State Senate Hearing. 2011-10-25. en. 2019-02-26.
  43. Web site: New SAT vs Old SAT: Changes You Must Know. Zhang. Fred. blog.prepscholar.com. en-us. 2019-02-26.
  44. Web site: SAT officials say former FBI chief to examine security procedures after NY cheating scandal. www.freehgroup.com. 2019-02-26.
  45. News: The Perfect Score: Cheating on the SAT. 2018-11-03. en.
  46. Web site: The Perfect Score: Cheating on the SAT. www.cbsnews.com. en. 2019-02-26.
  47. Web site: Kurt M. Landgraf. www.washcoll.edu. en. 2018-11-03.
  48. News: The Perfect Score: Cheating on the SAT. 2018-11-03. en.
  49. Web site: 'The Cheating Pact' true story of Samuel Eshaghoff. article.wn.com. en. 2018-11-19.
  50. Web site: 2022-12-19 . West Egg Development . 2023-09-05 . West Egg Development . en-US.
  51. Web site: 2018-10-12 . Million-Dollar Listings: East New York . 2023-09-05 . Real Estate Weekly . en-US.
  52. Web site: Morris . Sebastian . 2018-10-08 . Construction Wraps on New Two-Family Homes at 710-714 Wortman Avenue, East New York, Brooklyn . 2023-09-05 . New York YIMBY . en-US.
  53. News: June . Sophia . 2020-07-28 . Recent Commercial Real Estate Transactions . en-US . The New York Times . 2020-08-10 . 0362-4331.
  54. Web site: Eshaghoff's West Egg Development expands in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. nyrej.com. en. 2020-05-10.
  55. Web site: Morris . Sebastian . 2019-08-15 . West Egg Development Debuts Renderings of 110 East 53rd Street in East Flatbush, Brooklyn . 2023-09-05 . New York YIMBY . en-US.
  56. Web site: Morris . Sebastian . 2019-12-12 . Rendering Revealed for Three-Building Development at 106-110 East 53rd Street in East Flatbush, Brooklyn . 2023-09-05 . New York YIMBY . en-US.
  57. Web site: Londono . Vanessa . 2020-07-06 . Permits Filed for 76 East 53rd Street in East Flatbush, Brooklyn . 2023-09-05 . New York YIMBY . en-US.
  58. Web site: Select Projects. West Egg Development. en-US. 2020-05-10.
  59. Web site: Morris . Sebastian . 2022-05-19 . Renderings Reveal Mixed-Use Building at 215-16 Northern Boulevard in Bayside, Queens . 2023-09-05 . New York YIMBY . en-US.
  60. Web site: 2023-03-18 . 215-16 Northern Blvd GERALD J. CALIENDO RA PC . 2023-09-05 . en.
  61. Web site: 2020 Ones to Watch: Sam Eshaghoff, West Egg Development. 2020-08-18. nyrej.com. en.
  62. Web site: 2018-10-17 . First $1M Homes Have Arrived in East NY -- Is a Wave of Developers Next? . 2023-09-05 . BKReader . en.
  63. Web site: 2023-04-24 . Op-ed: Food deserts need healthy restaurants too . 2023-04-26 . Crain's New York Business . en.
  64. Web site: 2023-09-07 . Op-ed: Renew tax abatement programs to refill new housing pipeline . 2023-09-14 . Crain's New York Business . en.
  65. Web site: Sam . Eshaghoff . 2023-09-13 . NYC Must Incentivize Residential Development Before It’s Too Late . 2023-09-14 . Commercial Observer . en-US.
  66. Web site: The domino effect of rent stabilization in New York - by Sam Eshaghoff . 2023-10-01 . nyrej.com . en.
  67. Web site: More Heads In Beds Closing Grocery Store Gaps In Southern Dallas . 2023-09-05 . Bisnow . en.

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