With the largest college admissions scam ever exposed recently, wealthy parents, Hollywood actresses, coaches and college prep executives have been accused of carrying out a nationwide fraud to get students into prestigious universities.
Recent reports suggest that Desperate Housewives’ veteran actress Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin of Fuller House fame are among a group of 46 people who have been charged in a widespread college admissions bribery scandal.
Both Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin have been charged with a single felony count of mail fraud. Lori Loughlin and husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, are accused of paying $500,000 to have their two daughters accepted to USC as members of the crew team, though they did not participate in crew.
According to an FBI affidavit, Huffman was heard discussing a rigged SAT test for her daughter on recorded phone calls. The affidavit states that Huffman “and her spouse” discussed the arrangement on multiple calls. Huffman’s husband, actor William H. Macy, was not charged and is not named in the affidavit.
According to reports, 13 of the accused were taken into custody Tuesday morning in the Los Angeles area, including Huffman, who appeared in a federal courtroom in downtown Los Angeles. “Their actions were without a doubt insidious, selfish and shameful,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI office in Boston. “Today’s arrests should be a warning to others. You can’t pay to play. You can’t lie and cheat to get ahead.”
The FBI dubbed the investigation ‘Operation Varsity Blues’.
