Lori Loughlin sentenced to two months in prison in college admissions scandal

Husband Mossimo Giannulli has been sentenced to five months

Lori Loughlin (centre) and her husband Mossimo Giannulli (right) exit the Boston federal courthouse on 27 August 2019. (JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)

Lori Loughlin has been sentenced to two months in prison in the college admissions scandal case.

The former Full House star was handed the sentence on Friday during a virtual hearing.

Just a few hours prior, her husband Mossimo Giannulli was sentenced to five months behind bars in the same case.

During Friday’s hearing, Loughlin said she made an “awful decision” and said she’s “sorry” for her actions.

She became emotional as she said she now wants to “take responsibility and move forward” and “use this experience as a catalyst to do good”.

Loughlin nodded eagerly as US District Judge Nathaniel Gorton said he believes her to be remorseful.

In addition to the prison sentence, Loughlin will pay a $150,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service.

Giannulli will pay a $250,000 fine and perform 250 hours of community service under his own plea deal.

Like her husband, Loughlin has been ordered to surrender on 19 November.

Assistant US Attorney Justin O’Connell said during the hearing that Loughlin wasn’t content with the advantages her children already had thanks to their wealth and “was focused on getting what she wanted, no matter how and no matter the cost.”

He said prison time was was necessary to send a message that “everyone no matter your status is accountable in our justice system.”

Her attorney BJ Trach said she is “profoundly sorry” for her actions. He also said that Loughlin has begun volunteering at a elementary school in LA with children with special needs.

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Describing the “devastating” impact the charges have had on the 56-year-old actor’s family life and career, Trach said: “Lori lost the acting career she spent 40 years building.”

Loughlin’s lawyer and Giannulli both alluded to bullying their daughters faced after the charges were made public. Brach said the family was forced to hire security for their daughters because of the intense publicity and bullying they faced, and that Loughlin has sought to repair her relationship with her daughters.

The famous couple’s sentencing comes three months after they reversed course and admitted to participating in the college admissions cheating scheme.

Prior to that, Loughlin and Giannulli had insisted for more than a year that they believed their payments were “legitimate donations” and accused prosecutors of hiding crucial evidence that could prove the couple’s innocence because it would undermine their case.

Their about-face came shortly after the judge rejected their bid to dismiss the case over allegations of misconduct by federal agents.

They are among nearly 30 prominent parents to plead guilty in the case, which federal prosecutors dubbed “Operation Varsity Blues.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report