TSR Updatez: “Full House” actress Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli will do a brief stint in prison for their involvement in the “Varsity Blues” scandal.
Aunt Becky was sentenced to 2 months while her fashion designer husband will serve 5 months for paying half a million dollars in bribes to get their two daughters into the University of Southern California as rowing recruits, the Associated Press reports.
Lori’s husband was sentenced first this morning.
“I take full responsibility for my conduct. I am ready to accept the consequences and move forward, with the lessons I’ve learned from this experience,” Giannulli said in a short statement in which he showed little emotion.
In the first display of remorse either of them have made publicly over the fraud, Giannulli told the judge he “deeply” regrets the harm that his actions have caused his family and others.
The judge accepted their plea deals saying their prison terms are “sufficient but not greater than necessary punishment under the circumstances.”
Judge Gorton scolded Giannulli for what he described as “breathtaking fraud” made possible by his money and privilege.
“You were not stealing bread to feed your family. You have no excuse for your crime and that makes it all the more blameworthy,” the judge told Giannulli before officially sentencing him.
Under the plea deal, Giannulli will also pay a $250,000 fine and perform 250 hours of community service while Lori will pay a $150,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service.
Actress Felicity Huffman, who was also found guilty of crimes of bribery in connection to the scandal pleaded guilty and only served 11 days in prison.
Critics feel that these prominent figures used their privilege to get their children into school and to get lesser sentences for the crimes, especially since Lori has shown little remorse.
We’ll keep you posted on any updates.