While “Desperate Housewives” actress Felicity Huffman decided to plead guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud stemming from the college admissions bribery scam that rocked the nation last month, former “The Edge of Night” and “Full House” star Lori Loughlin and her fashion mogul husband, Mossimo Giannulli, have gone the opposite route. The two have joined with a band of other parents accused of wrongdoing in pleading not guilty, according to court documents filed Monday, reports the Associated Press.
Shortly after it was announced that Huffman would plead guilty to the charges brought against her, it was announced that Loughlin and Giannulli were indicted alongside a host of others on charges of mail fraud and money laundering conspiracy. The two are accused of paying $500,000 in order to buy their two daughters admission into the University of Southern California, which recently announced that neither admits have been allowed to withdraw from the school despite published reports stating otherwise.
“USC has placed holds on the accounts of students who may be associated with the alleged admissions scheme,” the college said in a statement released to Us Weekly. “This prevents the students from registering for classes (until they have agreed to participate in the review of their case), withdrawing from the university, or acquiring transcripts while their cases are under review.”
In a statement announcing her decision to plead guilty, Huffman said, “I am pleading guilty to the charge brought against me by the United States Attorney’s Office.” She added, “I am in full acceptance of my guilt, and with deep regret and shame over what I have done, I accept full responsibility for my actions and will accept the consequences that stem from those actions. I am in full acceptance of my guilt, and with deep regret and shame over what I have done, I accept full responsibility for my actions and will accept the consequences that stem from those actions.”
Loughlin and Giannulli waived their right to appear in court for arraignment and plead not guilty.