Another celebrity’s family is reeling from the infamous college admissions scandal for their role in the fraud that rocked the US from coast to coast.
Mossimo Giannulli, husband of celebrity Lori Loughlin, best known for her starring role in Full House, began his five-month sentence on Tuesday for his role in the nation-wide admissions scandal that has already upended wealthy families from all over. Besides his five-year prison term, his sentence includes a fine of $250,000, two years of supervised release and 250 hours of community service.
Giannulli, 57, a famous fashion designer in his own right, is now serving his time in the California medium-security federal prison in Lompoc. Giannulli follows on the heels of celebrity wife Loughlin, who arrived for her own two-month sentence in the Dublin Institute federal prison on October 30, located about 260 miles from Lompoc.
The couple were charged with fraud and pleaded guilty for their participation in crimes along with many other high profile celebrities and wealthy families in the federal case that is known as “Operation Varsity Blues.”
After a year in court arguing they were not guilty of any crimes, and that they believed their $500,000 payment was a donation to USC, the couple pled guilty. In court, Loughlin emotionally said, ”I thought I was acting out of love for my children, but in reality it undermined and diminished my daughters' abilities and accomplishments. More broadly and more importantly, I now understand that my decisions helped exacerbate existing inequalities in society generally and the higher education system more specifically."
Most parents involved in the fraud paid college admissions consultant William “Rick” Singer hundreds of thousands of dollars each to fake their way into prestigious schools for their high school children, often creating sham videos, photos and resumes in order to boost their teenagers’ college applications.
Loughlin, who played squeaky-clean Aunt Becky on the ABC hit TV series"Full House," pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. Her husband, Giannulli, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud. Loughlin was fined $150,000 and must perform 100 hours of community service once she completes her prison sentence.
The couple paid half a million dollars to fraudulently create fake images and information that made their two daughters look like experienced, successful rowers. Their fraud was an attempt to obtain guaranteed admission for the girls to the University of Southern California, showing staged photos of daughters Olivia Jade and Isabella using rowing machines.
At the time of the scandal, Olivia Jade Giannulli had already established herself as a YouTube and Instagram/Social Media star, with more than two million followers and numerous sponsors including Sephora and Amazon. Once the scandal became public and her parents were indicted, she disappeared from her successful brand on social media.
Both wealthy parents join a long-list in this celebrity prison lineup, after being exposed in the admissions scandal by a nation-wide federal sting.
"Desperate Housewives" star Felicity Huffman, who cooperated with the prosecution early on, has already served 11 days of her 14-day sentence in 2019.
In total, federal prosecutors report more than 50 parents paid about $25 million to falsify records and get their children into prestigious schools such as Yale, Stanford and others.
As of today, the list of parents sentenced in the case is staggering and impacts numerous cities. At this time, with cases still pending, about 28 people, including one lawyer, have been found guilty and are serving prison time.
