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Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli pleaded guilty Friday to bribing their daughters’ way into the University of Southern California as part of the massive college admissions scandal. The California couple copped to conspiracy charges — during an oftentimes glitchy video conference — after hammering out plea deals with federal prosecutors. “What say you …
Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli pleaded guilty Friday to bribing their daughters’ way into the University of Southern California as part of the massive college admissions scandal.
The California couple copped to conspiracy charges — during an oftentimes glitchy video conference — after hammering out plea deals with federal prosecutors.
“What say you now to count one, guilty or not guilty?” the clerk asked Loughlin.
“Guilty,” she replied stonefaced, while seated next to her attorney in a black blouse.
Moments later, Loughlin’s husband, sporting a heavy salt-and-pepper beard, also pleaded guilty.
The former “Full House” star, 55, has agreed to serve two months in jail, pay a $150,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service in exchange for pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud.
Giannulli, 56, the fashion designer who founded the brand Mossimo, copped to two counts — conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud. He has agreed to serve five months behind bars, pay a $250,000 fine and do 250 hours of community service.
Both plea deals have to be approved by Boston federal court Judge Nathaniel Gorton, who informed both that if he rejects the deals, they have the option of taking their case to trial.
The roughly half-hour Zoom proceeding, which was watched by a couple hundred members of the press and public, was delayed by 20 minutes because two participants had problems logging on.
Then, sound issues ran amok.
“You have to unmute!” Gorton reminded the lawyers several times throughout the virtual conference.
Sentencing for Loughlin and Giannulli was scheduled for Aug. 21 though their lawyer, William Trach, requested the proceeding be moved to July 30.
“Our clients would obviously like to have finality on this process,” Trach told the judge in asking if pre-sentencing paperwork could be done sooner.
Trach also expressed concern about having a high-profile sentencing right before jury selection in September for another defendant in the case.
The couple admitted to paying $500,000 in bribes to convicted college fixer William “Rick” Singer, who got their daughters Olivia Jade and Isabella Rose into USC as rowing recruits — even though neither participated in the sport.
Prosecutors released a mountain of evidence against the pair, including the phony photos showing the two girls on rowing equipment that Singer submitted to get them admitted and a slew of email exchanges.
“Lori and Moss, I met with USC today [and] I need a PDF of her transcript and test scores very soon while I create a coxswain portfolio for her,” Singer wrote in a 2016 email requesting Isabella’s photo. “It would probably help to get a picture with her on an ERG in workout clothes like a real athlete too.”
Giannulli responded, “Fantastic. Will get all,” according to court documents.
Prosecutors said the proud dad also emailed his financial adviser about the scam.
“Good news my [older] daughter is in [U]SC bad [news] is I had to work the system,” Giannulli wrote.
Loughlin and Giannulli were among dozens ensnared in the sweeping college admissions scam that took down deep-pocketed parents and coaches at top universities across the country.
“Desperate Housewives” star Felicity Huffman also pleaded guilty to charges, serving 11 days of a two-week sentence.
In March, Loughlin and Giannulli filed a motion to dismiss the charges, accusing prosecutors of “extraordinary” misconduct.
The couple had issued full-throated defenses against the charges, claiming they believed they were paying legitimate donations.
A judge denied their motion to dismiss earlier this month, paving the way for an October trial.
Loughlin and Giannulli are the 23rd and 24th parents to plead guilty in the case.
Lawyers suggested that the pair could spend less time behind bars due to coronavirus concerns.
