Actress Lori Loughlin, famous for playing Aunt Becky on classic sitcom Full House, and her husband Mossimo Giannulli may both see prison time for their alleged roles in the college admissions bribery scandal. As CNN reported, federal prosecutors now recommend that Loughlin serve 2 months in prison and Giannulli serve 5 after they plead guilty back in May.
The scandal was uncovered last year. Various parents allegedly paid Rick Singer, the mastermind of the conspiracy, large amounts of money to allegedly forge transcripts as a ploy to get their children into several top universities across the country. Loughlin and Giannulli allegedly paid Singer $500,000 in 2016 so their two daughters would be enrolled in the University of Southern California. In memos between the parties CNN reported on last October, they described their scheme. They would allegedly take photographs of their daughters rowing and lie to the high school counselor in order to portray their daughters as crew team recruits.
The prosecutors determined that Giannulli was the alleged more active participant, with his individual accountant allegedly paying Singer secretly. In a quote published on CNN, they also stated that Loughlin was “fully complicit.” In regards to the high school counselor, Loughlin allegedly told her daughters not to “say too much to that man,” allegedly describing him as “the weasel,” in memos obtained by CNN.
In addition to prison time, the prosecutors recommended additional sentences for the couple. Giannulli would perform 250 hours of community service and pay a $250,000 fine. Loughlin’s sentence was less severe, consisting of 100 hours and a $150,000 fine. Upon release from prison, they would be supervised by authorities for two years.
The couple’s sentence will be determined and announced this Friday, August 21st. Giannulli’s will be sentenced at 11 a.m. PST, while Loughlin’s will be announced later that evening. Their children are no longer enrolled at USC.