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Lori Loughlin Surrenders To Authorities In College Bribery Scandal, Expected To Appear In Court
The FBI showed up at the actress' home on Tuesday to make the arrest, but she was in Vancouver for work at the time.
This post has been updated with news of Loughlin's surrender to authorities.
Lori Loughlin surrendered to authorities Wednesday and is expected to appear in court to face charges in the college bribery scandal that has shocked the nation.
The FBI showed up on the actress’ doorstep Tuesday to arrest the “Full House” star—the same day authorities arrested actress Felicity Huffman— but discovered Loughlin was out of town for work, TMZ reports.
Loughlin’s representatives arranged for her to turn herself in on Wednesday after she returned from Vancouver to face charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.
The television star and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, are accused of paying $500,000 in bribes for their two daughters to be designated as crew team recruits for the University of Southern California (USC). Neither daughter even participated in the sport, but the ruse was designed to facilitate the girl’s admission into the prestigious college.
Giannulli was arrested on Tuesday for the same charges facing his wife, but posted bail and was released later that same day.
A cooperating witness provided federal investigators communications, including emails, from Giannulli and Loughlin regarding their efforts to get their daughters into USC, according to court documents.
The couple are just two of 50 people that have been charged in the alleged scheme involving wealthy parents willing to pay thousands for their children to be admitted to prestigious schools such as Yale, Stanford, The University of Texas and USC.
Huffman is another celebrity named in the scam, but the allegations against her differ slightly from those facing Loughlin.
According to an affidavit filed in the case, Huffman is accused of making a $15,000 charitable donation for her oldest daughter with actor William H. Macy, to be part of a college entrance exam cheating scandal.
As part of the arrangement, Huffman’s daughter took the SAT at a center associated and “controlled” by the Key Worldwide Foundation, one of the central organizations involved in the alleged scheme. A proctor overseeing the test later secretly corrected answers on the entrance exam to help her daughter achieve a higher score.
The FBI showed up at Huffman’s door Tuesday at 6 a.m. with their guns drawn to arrest the actress, TMZ reports.
She was later spotted leaving the a downtown Los Angeles courtroom after posting a $250,000 bail, according to People.
