Lori Loughlin, Husband To Plead Guilty In USC Admissions Scandal

BOSTON — Actress Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli on Thursday agreed to prison time in exchange for a guilty plea in a college admissions scandal.

The former "Full House" star and her fashion designer husband agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy charges connected to "securing the fraudulent admission of their two children to the University of Southern California as purported athletic recruits," U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling's office said in a news release. The plea agreement was filed in Boston's federal court.

Loughlin, 56, agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud in exchange for two months in prison, a $150,000 fine, and two years of supervised release with 100 hours of community service.

Giannulli agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud five months in prison, a $250,000 fine, and two years of supervised release with 250 hours of community service.

The charge of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud carries up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Prosecutors agreed to drop the charges of money laundering and federal programs bribery. Those were added after the initial charges.

Loughlin and Giannulli, of California, were among the highest-profile parents charged following the federal investigation dubbed "Operation Varsity Blues." They were accused of paying $500,000 in bribes to get their daughters into the University of Southern California as recruits to the crew team. Neither girl had played crew.

The couple had maintained innocence throughout the process, with their lawyers saying new evidence would exonerate them.

"Under the plea agreements filed today, these defendants will serve prison terms reflecting their respective roles in a conspiracy to corrupt the college admissions process and which are consistent with prior sentences in this case," Lelling said. "We will continue to pursue accountability for undermining the integrity of college admissions."