Pimco says some staff used 'legitimate' services of college scandal mastermind

David Sidoo (2nd R) -- along with attorneys Richard Schonfeld (L), David Chesnoff and Martin Weinberg (R) -- speaks outside Boston federal court after pleading not guilty to charges of participating in the largest college admissions fraud scheme in U.S. history in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. March 15, 2019. REUTERS/Ross Kerber

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The figure at the centre of the U.S. college cheating scandal spoke twice in the past decade at events hosted by Pacific Investment Management Co (Pimco), one of the world's largest asset managers whose former chief executive is ensnared in the fraud, the company said on Friday.

Some Pimco employees also used William 'Rick' Singer's "legitimate college prep services," Pimco said in a statement. "We have no information at this time, however, to indicate Pimco employees acted improperly in their private capacity," Pimco said.