It looks like Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli might get a lot more than just a slap on the wrist.
Facing Charges
Loughlin, best known as Aunt Becky from “Full House,” and her fashion designer husband, who founded the Mossimo brand, are among 50 people indicted as part of the college admissions scandal codenamed Varsity Blues.
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Plea Deal
It’s been long-believed that they would negotiate a plea deal instead of going to trial. It seems that things are playing out that way following the couples’ first appearance in front of a judge last week.
Two Years In Jail
Now, according to TMZ , we know some of the reported terms of that potential deal. The plea being offered to Loughlin and Giannulli would reportedly land them behind bars for a minimum of two years.
Huffman Accepted A Deal
The other celebrity involved in this case, actress Felicity Huffman, has already reportedly accepted a plea deal to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest-services mail fraud.
Four Months
Huffman is reportedly going to spend about four months in jail, which is substantially less than the term Loughlin and her husband are potentially facing.
Why The Difference?
The reason for the discrepancy is reportedly because Huffman only paid $15,000 to have ringleader Ring Singer to allow her daughter to cheat on an entrance exam. Loughlin, on the other hand, allegedly paid Singer $500,000 to bribe a crew coach at USC to get her daughters admitted on a bogus athletic scholarship.
Lost Roles
Loughlin has already experienced plenty of negative fallout from the charges against her. She lost her role on “Fuller House” shortly after she was arrested, along with her many roles with the Hallmark Channel.
No Getting Out Of Jail Time
From the beginning, prosecutors have pushed for all of those indited to face at least some jail time for their crimes. They want to show that being rich isn’t a Get Out of Jail Free card.
Ultimatum From Prosecutors
All of the parents charged in the scandal have been given the same warning: reach a plea deal quickly, or face a Federal Grand Jury with even more charges added to the mix.
Tried To Call Their Bluff
Loughlin didn’t agree to the deal, but if she and Mossimo thought they were calling the prosecutor’s bluff, they were probably surprised when those new charges were brought almost immediately. The US Attorney says the charges are:
“Conspiring to launder the bribes and other payment in furtherance of the fraud by funneling them through [Rick] Singer’s purported charity and his for-profit corporation.”
Increased Minimums
The money laundering charge adds another possible 20 years in jail to Loughlin’s tally and labeling it a “conspiracy,” could take that even higher. This means that any new plea bargain will now require even more minimum jail time if they want to avoid the Grand Jury.
