Actresses charged with fraud in college admissions scam

Lori Loughlin, actress on Full House, and Desperate Housewives actress, Felicity Huffman, are two of 50 parents, coaches, and other defendants, who are facing fraud-related charges for their involvement in a college admissions scam.

According to the allegations, a number of wealthy parents bribed coaches and college entrance exam administrators thousands, and possibly even millions of dollars, to get their children into top schools all around the country.

Prosecutors claim that the students applied to major universities using fake exam scores and many coaches falsely listed students as “recruited athletes” to increase their chances of getting into the schools.

Those involved in the reported scam are facing a variety of fraud-based charges. After making a $15,000 payment, allegedly to charity, Huffman and her husband, actor William H. Macy, apparently agreed to a cheating scheme involving their daughter’s entrance exam results. As a result, Huffman was charged with fraud and conspiracy. Loughlin and her husband, designer Mossimo Giannulli, were also charged with fraud and conspiracy after they allegedly paid $500,000 in bribes to have their daughters listed as recruits to the USC crew team, even though they were not involved in crew. No students have yet been charged, as authorities are saying they were not aware of their parents’ actions.

White collar crimes can result in serious penalties. Fraud occurs when someone uses false information or makes misrepresentations for personal gain. If you commit fraud, you could be charged with a felony and face significant jail time and be required to pay a large fine. The severity of the consequences you face will depend on a number of factors, including the amount of financial loss. A criminal defense attorney may be able to come up with an effective defense strategy to protect you.