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AP

Actress Pleads Not Guilty in College Bribery Case

Apr 15, 2019  •  Post A Comment

Actress Lori Loughlin, who played Aunt Becky on “Full House,” and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, submitted not guilty pleas today to charges related to the sweeping college admissions bribery scandal, the AP reports, citing court documents. The pleas have not yet been formally entered.

“The couple is accused of paying $500,000 in bribes to get their daughters admitted to the University of Southern California as crew recruits, even though neither is a rower,” the AP reports. “They were among 50 people charged last month in the scandal that has embroiled elite schools across the country, including Stanford, Georgetown and Yale.”

The court documents indicate that the couple waived their right to appear in Boston federal court for their arraignment to plead not guilty to the two charges against them. The report notes that the judge must approve the request not to appear to formally enter their pleas.

Authorities have called the case, in which 33 wealthy parents were charged, the biggest college admissions case ever prosecuted by the Justice Department.

“Fellow actress Felicity Huffman, who starred in ABC’s ‘Desperate Housewives,’ and 12 other parents announced last week that they have agreed to plead guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud,” the report notes. “Huffman is scheduled to appear in Boston on May 21 to enter her plea.”

Loughlin, Giannulli and more than a dozen other parents who are still fighting the case face an added charge of money laundering conspiracy.

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