Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli were sentenced to two and five months in prison respectively for their involvement in the college admissions scandal.
Actress Lori Loughlin, 56, has had a rough time since she was charged in the college admissions scandal. She had bribed people to get her daughters, Olivia Jade Giannulli and Isabella Rose Giannulli, into the University of Southern California. After being sentenced, the Full House star had told the court that she was just looking out for her kids but took the wrong path to do so.
Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, had paid $500,000 to Rick Singer and Key Worldwide Foundation so they could help their daughters Olivia, 20, and Isabella, 21, get admission as recruits to the University of Southern California crew team, according to People. However, they have never participated in the sport. Loughlin was sentenced to only two months in jail, a $150,000 fine, and 150 hours of community service, while Giannulli, 57, was sentenced to only five months in jail, a $250,000 fine, and 250 hours of community service.
"I made an awful decision," she told the judge after her sentencing, per People. "I went along with a plan to give my daughters an unfair advantage in the college admissions process. In doing so, I ignored my intuition and allowed myself to be swayed from my moral compass. I thought I was acting out of love for my children," she continued. "But in reality, it only undermined and diminished my daughters’ abilities and accomplishments. More broadly and more importantly, I now understand that my decision helped exacerbate existing inequalities in society, generally, and the higher education system, more specifically," she added.
The actress added that that the "realization weighs heavily" on her and she is taking responsibility. "I have great faith in God and I believe in redemption," she said. "And I will do everything in my power to redeem myself and use this experience as a catalyst to do good and give back for the rest of my life. Your Honor, I’m truly, deeply and profoundly sorry, and I’m ready to accept the consequences and make amends. Thank you for your time," she concluded.
Loughlin pleaded guilty and has reported to prison on October 30 to serve a two-month sentence for her role in the college admissions scandal. She is housed at FCI-Dublin in northern California, as per People. Her daughters also had a hard time saying goodbye to her as she will be spending the holidays inside the prison. "Lori was upset but is putting on a brave face for the family. She's trying to be strong. She's ready to get in and out and close the door on this chapter," the source added.
"The girls were there saying their goodbyes before Lori headed off," a source told E!. "It was a big moment for their family and everyone was very upset. Although the girls knew it was coming and have had time to prepare, it's still devastating to see their mom go. Both Olivia and Bella are very distraught over it. They are grateful it is for only two months but are anxious knowing they will have a very different and hard holiday season this year," they said. The girls' father will go to prison after their mom is out.
A source told People that she is adjusting to the daily routine inside the prison. "She has not had any specific problems," the source said. "No one has tried any s--- with her. No one is bullying her. The guards aren’t treating her any differently than other inmates."
"She was a little weepy on her first night there," the source says. "But she pulled herself together quickly. Now she’s resolved to finish her sentence with her head held high."
Her husband, Giannulli, was also sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and one count of honest services wire and mail fraud. The Giannulli couple was one of the A-listers among more than 50 wealthy parents who bribed their children's way into college. Actress Felicity Huffman was another A-lister to do so.
References:
https://people.com/crime/lori-loughlin-weepy-first-day-prison/
