Lori Loughlin in court: Celebrities including Felicity Huffman appear for college admissions scandal hearing

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Actors Huffman, Loughlin charged in college admissions case

Hollywood starlets Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin made their first courtroom appearance at a Boston federal Court alongside 13 other parents charged with a nationwide college admission cheating scandal.

Huffman and Loughlin appeared before Magistrate Judge Page Kelly on Wednesday for felony charges that they bribed and cheated exams in order to get their daughters accepted into elite universities.

The defendants have been charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud in a large-scale scheme prosecutors called "Operation Varsity Blues."

Prosecutors said wealthy parents paid a college preparatory business to cheat on standardised tests or bribe coaches into helping them get their child accepted into highly competitive universities ranging from Georgetown University, Yale University, and the University of Southern California.

Huffman paid $15,000 to William Rick Singer, the orchestrator behind the scheme, to have her son's SAT exams rigged. Loughlin paid $500,000 for her two daughters to be considered as recruits to the University of Southern California's crew team. Neither of her daughters ever rowed competitively.

The court appearances for the Hollywood defendants lasted mere minutes.

When Loughlin, and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, was called to appear before the judge, she smiled and reached over to shake the hands of the three prosecutors that brought the felony charges against her.

When asked if they understand the charges and the terms of conditions for their release, both Loughlin and Huffman said they understood.

Ms Kelly said that international travel is prohibited unless it is required for business. The defendants are required to turn in their passports to the probation's office. Loughlin's attorney said she already turned her passport over to her pretrial supervisor in California.

The defendants are also not allowed to take narcotic drugs unless prescribed, possess firearms, and have direct or indirect contact with victims or witnesses — unless there is a lawyer present.

Ms Kelly rejected a request to prohibit parens from discussing the case with their children, saying it is unrealistic.

Actor William H. Macy, Huffman's husband, was not charged in the case despite a FBI affidavit describing the actress's "spouse" also participated in the scheme. He also did not appear in court.

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Key Points

• Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin among 50 charged in FBI probe into 'scheme to cheat on college exams'
• Lori Loughlin's daughter criticised for resurfaced video about college
• Stanford students file civil lawsuit amid 'college bribing scheme'
• Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin sued for $500bn in college scam
• Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin: masters of ‘snowplough parenting’

[3 April 2019 15:30 · Sarah Harvard]

Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, both actresses are scheduled to appear in Boston federal court Wednesday.

Loughlin and Huffman, alongside thirteen other parents who’ve been charged as part of the nationwide cheating scandal, are scheduled to have their court appearance at 2:30pm ET.

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[3 April 2019 15:45 · Sarah Harvard]

A prison consultant told CBS news that one of the parents charged in the college admission scheme said they're scared about surviving in prison.

From CBS:

"They're scared and it's 'Can I survive in prison? Am I cut out for prison?'" Justin Paperny said. "What's most surprising to me about the first conversation is how many of them didn't view their actions as criminal."

​

Paperny said he is helping them confront their denial while answering their basic questions about prison life, including ""What's it like? What will my job be? Can my family visit? Is there email? Is there internet?"

[3 April 2019 16:00 · Sarah Harvard]

Loughlin was seen signing autographs in Boston ahead of her court appearance on Wednesday.

[3 April 2019 16:15 · Sarah Harvard]

Reporters are lined up outside Boston Federal Court ahead of Loughlin and Huffman's appearances.

[3 April 2019 16:30 · Sarah Harvard]

Huffman is seen arriving early for her first court appearance in Boston Federal Court on Wednesday.

[3 April 2019 16:45 · Sarah Harvard]

Federal prosecutors accuse Loughlin, alone with her husband Mossimo Giannulli of agreeing to pay a college preparatory business $500,000 to have their two daughters named as recruits to the University of Southern California's crew team.

The daughters never rowed competitively.

[3 April 2019 17:00 · Sarah Harvard]

Loughlin and Huffman each face a maximum of 5 years in prison if convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.

[3 April 2019 17:15 · Sarah Harvard]

Prosecutors say Huffman paid $15,000 to have her daughter’s SAT test rigged.

[3 April 2019 17:30 · Sarah Harvard]

Candace Cameron Bure, who co-stars with Loughlin on Fuller House, came to her friend's defence while appearing on Today on Tuesday.

“It’s too personal to us, and we would never want to talk about someone that’s such a dear and close friend,” Ms Bure said. “I’ve already said that we are family and we stand by each other and pray for each other and we’ll always be there for each other.”

[3 April 2019 17:45 · Sarah Harvard]

Loughlin is seen posing with fans before her court appearance.