Lori Loughlin apologized after being sentenced to two months in jail for college fraud

The actress Lori Loughlin, known for her participation in the series “Full House”, She was sentenced yesterday to two months in jail for her participation in a network of millionaire bribes to facilitate the admission of her daughters to a prestigious university in the United States.

A few hours earlier, her husband, the fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, was sentenced to five months in prison for his involvement in this scandal.

In addition to his prison sentence, Giannulli was ordered to pay a $ 250,000 fine and perform 250 hours of community service.

Loughlin had pleaded guilty in May to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, after she and Giannulli denied involvement in the scandal for a year..

Prior to being sentenced yesterday, Loughlin and Giannulli apologized for using their wealth and privilege to get their daughters into college through bribery.

Making an effort not to cry, Loughlin told the judge that her actions “helped exacerbate inequalities in society” and promised to do everything possible to use her experience as “a catalyst for good.”.

“I made a terrible decision. I followed a plan to give my daughters an unfair advantage in the college admissions process and in doing so I ignored my intuition and strayed from my moral principles, “Loughlin said during the hearing held via videoconference on the coronavirus pandemic.

In a previous hearing, Giannulli told the judge hours earlier Friday that he was “deeply” sorry for the harm his actions caused to his daughters, wife and others.

“I take full responsibility for my behavior. I am ready to accept the consequences and continue to move forward with the lessons I have learned from this experience, ”said Giannulli, 57, in a statement.

The famous couple’s sentencing comes three months after they changed the course of their trial and admitted they participated in the college admissions scheme. that evidenced the lengths to which some wealthy parents go to get their children to enter elite universities.

They are among the roughly 30 famous and wealthy parents who pleaded guilty in what federal authorities called “Operation Varsity Blues,” for which they uncovered huge bribes for the children of these parents to enter colleges with test results. fraudulent or false athletic references.

Loughlin and Giannulli will have to surrender to authorities on November 19. In accepting their plea agreements, US District Judge Nathaniel Gorton said the prison sentences are “sufficient but not greater than the punishment necessary under the circumstances.”

Gorton expressed his scandal at the couple’s greed, telling Loughlin that she had a “lovely” and “fairy tale” life with a successful career and enough wealth, yet she was not satisfied.

“Here she is in front of me as a convicted criminal and all for what? For the inexplicable desire to have even more, to have any prestige and the instant gratification that comes from being able to show off your daughter’s admission to the college of her choice, “said Gorton.

Under the unusual plea agreements, proposing the terms of his sentences instead of giving the judge the discretion to choose them, Giannulli will also have to pay a $ 250,000 fine and will perform 250 hours of community service. Loughlin will pay a $ 150,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service.

Loughlin and Giannulli had insisted for more than a year that they believed their payments were “legitimate donations” and accused prosecutors of hiding important evidence that could prove the couple was innocent..

The couple’s change in attitude came shortly after the judge rejected their request to dismiss the case on allegations of inappropriate conduct by federal agents.

The case affected the clean image of Loughlin, 56, who became famous as the focused Aunt Becky in the comedy “Full House” that aired in the 1980s and 1990s, and later became a star of the Hallmark channel with her Christmas movies and the series “When Calls the Heart.”

“Lori lost the acting career that took her 40 years to build”said her attorney BJ Trach, describing the “devastating” effect the charges had on the actress’ family and her career.

The couple’s attorneys described them as devoted parents whose actions were motivated by love for their daughters and alluded to the harassment their daughters have faced after the charges were made public. Trach said the family was forced to hire security for their daughters and that Loughlin has tried to mend her relationship with them.

Other parents sentenced to prison in the case asked the judge to allow them to serve their time under house arrest for the coronavirus pandemic, but Gorton, famous for ordering stiff sentences, has denied these requests.

Unlike all the other parents found guilty in the case thus far, the couple failed to timely submit letters expressing their regret or notes of support from family and friends to the judge, although Gorton said he received two letters in support of Loughlin on day of his sentence.

Prosecutors said Giannulli deserved a more serious sentence because he was the “most active participant in the scheme,” while Loughlin “played a less active role, but was totally complicit anyway.”

The couple gave their money through a fraudulent charity run by Singer for his daughters to enter university as members of the rowing team, despite the fact that none of them played the sport. Singer, who also pleaded guilty, was to testify against them if they went to trial.

Prosecutors said the couple allowed the daughters to be “accomplices in the crime” by directing them to pose for photos on rowing machines and warning their youngest daughter not to speak much to a counselor at her high school to avoid being discovered.

Among the other famous parents who have been sentenced to prison for participating in college fraud is “Desperate Housewives” actress Felicity Huffman, who spent two weeks behind bars late last year after admitting she paid $ 15,000 to have someone correct. your daughter’s entrance exam answers.

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