Lori Loughlin, Husband Plead Not Guilty in College Admissions Scandal
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 03: Lori Loughlin exits the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse after appearing in Federal Court to answer charges stemming from college admissions scandal on April 3, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images)
Actress Lori Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, pleaded not guilty to two conspiracy charges Monday, according to multiple reports.
According to CNN, Loughlin and Giannulli entered the plea in federal court Monday, which was their first major response to the charges against them as part of a massive nationwide college admissions scam. Prosecutors say the couple paid $500K to get their daughters Olivia and Isabella into USC, lying to claim the girls were on the crew team.
Federal agents are said to have emails and a recorded conversation from Loughlin and Giannulli which implicate them in the scam, according to ABC News.
But Loughlin and Giannulli pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, CNN reports. The two also waived their right to appear in court for an arraignment in relation to the money laundering charge.
The couple was initially facing one conspiracy to commit mail fraud, but were hit with the money laundering charge last week, reportedly after failing to accept a plea deal.
The couple did not appear in court Monday, according to Fox News.
Loughlin and Giannulli are both facing up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. They are among 35 other parents charged in the case nationwide, including actress Felicity Huffman, who accepted a plea deal last week.
