Report: Lori Loughlin Regretting ‘Not Guilty’ Plea After Felicity Huffman Sentenced to Prison Time

Monica Sanchez | September 16, 2019
DONATE
Font Size

“Full House” actress Lori Loughlin is reportedly regretting fighting against charges by the Department of Justice that she and her husband were involved in a major college admissions cheating scandal after fellow actress Felicity Huffman was sentenced to time in prison for taking part in the scheme.

Huffman was sentenced by a federal judge on Friday to 14 days in prison as well as required to pay a $30,000 fine and serve 250 hours of community service and one year of probation. The Oscar-nominated actress plead guilty earlier this year, admitting that she paid $15,000 to have her daughter Sophia’s SAT score altered.

When sentenced, she took full responsibility “without reservation” and apologized to her family and friends, as well as “the students who work hard every day to get into college, and to their parents who make tremendous sacrifices supporting their children.”

Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer J. Mossimo Giannulli, on the other hand, plead not guilty to charges that they paid $500,000 to get their two daughters, Olivia Jade and Isabella Rose, into the University of Southern California (USC) via recruitment onto the university’s crew team.

They turned down a plea deal back in April to serve potentially 18-24 months in jail. After rejecting the deal, she and Giannulli were hit with additional charges of money laundering and conspiracy, significantly raising the stakes to them facing possibly 20 years in prison for each charge. 

According to a report by PEOPLE, Laughlin “regrets” the decision they made with now “no deal on the table.”

“She didn’t understand the entire nature of the charges against her, and she wasn’t even sure if or how she had broken the law,” the source told PEOPLE. “It was very early, and she didn’t have all the information that she has now. Based on what she understood at the time, she made the best choice for herself. Now there is no deal on the table, and she has to have faith that the courts and the prosecution will move fairly and not make an example out of her.”

The source added that Loughlin was closely monitoring Huffman’s case, and is currently “processing” what the sentencing “means for her.”  

“Lori is aware of Felicity’s sentence, and is processing what that means for her,” the source said. “Her only move now is to take this to court and to prove that she is not guilty of what she’s charged with.”

“If she’s found guilty, she will go to jail; that is clear,” the source continued. “And if another deal is offered to her, which I don’t think it will be, she will go to jail. Her only chance of avoiding jail is to beat these charges. Lori is a smart woman; she understands that. She’s scared and upset, but she’s resolved to be strong and to fight this. She will do what she has to do to protect herself and her family.”

The DOJ announced charges against 50 people, including wealthy parents, students, coaches, and admissions officials.

According to Fox News, Laughlin and her husband’s lawyers plan to plead ignorance to the scam.

donate