Updated on Friday, May 22, at 10:03 a.m. PT:
Lori Loughlin and her fashion designer husband Mossimo Giannulli officially pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy charges for their roles in the college admissions scandal. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the hearing occurred via teleconference before a federal judge in Massachusetts, according to CNN. Asked if she understood what was happening, Loughlin replied “Yes, your honor.”
Loughlin, who played Aunt Becky on Full House, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. Giannulli pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud. They’ll be sentenced on Aug. 21.
Previously…
Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli have agreed to plead guilty in the college admissions scam, according to a Thursday press release from the U.S. attorney’s office in Massachusetts.
If the plea deals are approved by a federal judge, the Full House actress and her fashion designer husband will serve time in prison for their roles in the scandal that the two were first arrested for in March 2019.
Prosecutors accused the couple of paying a $500,000 bribe to get their two daughters, Olivia Jade Giannulli and Isabella Rose Giannulli, into the University of Southern California, as Urban Hollywood 411 previously reported.
Loughlin has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. If the judge approves the deal, she will be sentenced to two months in prison, pay a $150,000 fine, perform 100 hours of community service, and be subjected to two years of supervised release.
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Giannulli will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud, which if approved, will require him to spend five months in prison, pay a $250,000 fine, perform 250 hours of community service, and be subjected to two years of supervised release.
“Under the plea agreements filed today, these defendants will serve prison terms reflecting their respective roles in a conspiracy to corrupt the college admissions process and which are consistent with prior sentences in this case,” U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling said in a statement. “We will continue to pursue accountability for undermining the integrity of college admissions.”
Loughlin and Giannulli are the 23rd and 24th parents to plead guilty in the case, including actress Felicity Huffman. The Desperate Housewives star served 11 days in prison and was released in October 2019.
