Actress Lori Loughlin and her husband, designer Mossimo Giannulli, have agreed to plead guilty to charges of conspiracy in the ongoing college admissions scandal. This means both will be expected to serve time in prison, with Lori likely serving two months and Mossimo serving five.
Lori and Mossimo had been expected to go on trial in October, facing accusations that they paid $500,000 in bribes to get their daughters into the University of Southern California. They helped supply photos for false files that indicated both girls were experienced in rowing, and the girls were accepted into the school as part of the crew team.
Up until now, Lori and Mossimo have denied the charges against them and have been pledging to assert their innocence in court. However, the tides have turned, and now NBC Boston is reporting that the "U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts said the couple will plead guilty in U.S. District Court on a date to be specified by the court."
NBC Boston also reports that "Loughlin will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, while Giannulli will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud."
"Under the terms of the plea, Loughlin will serve two months in prison, pay a $150,000 fine and be on supervised release for two years with 100 community service. Giannulli will serve five months in prison, pay a $250,000 fine and be on supervised release for two years with 250 hours of community service."
US Attorney Andrew E. Lelling issued a statement that reads, "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."
He also added, "We will continue to pursue accountability for undermining the integrity of college admissions."
Lori and her husband are part of a group of 50 people who took part in the scandal in some way. The case has been called Operation Varsity Blues.
Actress Felicity Huffman previously pleaded guilty in her own court case as part of the scandal and served two weeks in federal prison. She admitted to paying $15,000 for an outside agent to fix her daughter's SAT exam results so she could gain admission to college.
A statement has been not released on behalf of Lori or her husband at this time.
