Tag: college admissions

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Felicity Huffman Sentenced To 14 Days In Jail For College Admission Scandal

The Washington Post is reporting former Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman has been sentenced to 14 days in jail in connection with a college admission scandal. The sentence also includes a $30,000 fine 250 hours of community service and supervised release for one year. In May, the actress pleaded guilty to fraud conspiracy after paying $15,000 to a ‘college admissions consultant’ to help one of her daughters obtain a fake SAT score. She is among the first of 15 wealthy parents to be sentenced who have admitted guilt in the admissions bribery and cheating scam known as Varsity Blues. Prosecutors recommended a month of incarceration for Huffman, plus a year of supervised release and a $20,000 fine. Huffman’s legal team argued jail was unwarranted and instead asked for a year of probation, 250 hours of community service and the same fine.

In a letter to Judge Indira Talwani, Huffman wrote, “I have a deep and abiding shame over what I have done. Shame and regret that I will carry for the rest of my life.”

“It is right that I should carry this burden and use it as fuel for change in my own life and hopefully it will be a cautionary tale for my daughters and the community,” she added.

Fifty-one people have been charged in the scandal to date. Nineteen parents – including Fuller House star Lori Laughlin – are fighting the charges.

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Felicity Huffman Plus 13 Will Plead Guilty To College Scandal

Felicity Huffman (image via Wikimedia)

Former Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman will plead guilty in the recent college admissions scandal.

According to Variety, Huffman was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. The criminal complaint alleges she paid $15,000 to a college admissions consultant, William Singer, to improve her daughter’s SAT score.

Huffman arranged to have her daughter take the SAT at the West Hollywood Test Center, which Singer controlled.

Huffman was also able to obtain extra time for her daughter to take the test. Singer admitted to hiring a proctor to correct answers on students’ exams.

Huffman’s daughter got a 1420 on the test, a 400 point improvement on her PSAT result.

The Oscar-nominated actress issued a statement about the guilty plea:

“I am in full acceptance of my guilt, and with deep regret and shame over what I have done, I accept full responsibility for my actions and will accept the consequences that stem from those actions.

“I am ashamed of the pain I have caused my daughter, my family, my friends, my colleagues and the educational community. I want to apologize to them and, especially, I want to apologize to the students who work hard every day to get into college, and to their parents who make tremendous sacrifices to support their children and do so honestly.”

“My daughter knew absolutely nothing about my actions, and in my misguided and profoundly wrong way, I have betrayed her. This transgression toward her and the public I will carry for the rest of my life. My desire to help my daughter is no excuse to break the law or engage in dishonesty.”

(image by Angela George, CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Dozens Indicted In College Admission Scandal Including Actresses Felicity Huffman & Lori Loughlin

Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin (images via Facebook)

This looks to be the story of the day, especially with the inclusion of actresses Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives) and Lori Loughlin (Full House). According to court filings, those indicted allegedly paid millions in bribes to get their children into elite colleges as well as cheating on entrance exams. Via the New York Times:

Federal prosecutors charged dozens of people on Tuesday in a major college admission scandal that involved wealthy parents, including Hollywood celebrities and prominent business leaders, paying bribes to get their children into elite American universities. Thirty-three parents were charged in the case. Also implicated were top college coaches, who were accused of accepting millions of dollars to help admit students to Wake Forest, Yale, Stanford, the University of Southern California and other schools, regardless of their academic or sports ability, officials said. Along with the Hollywood stars Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, those charged included prominent business leaders, a fashion designer and a top lawyer, as well as exam administrators accused of manufacturing students’ achievements and private admissions counselors accused of coordinating it all, officials said. Federal authorities say dozens of individuals were involved in a nationwide bribery and fraud scheme to help students gain admission to elite colleges and universities. Racketeering charges against 12 of the defendants are detailed in this indictment, one of a number of charging documents in the case.

William Rick Singer, the founder of the college preparatory business the Edge College & Career Network (aka The Key), is apparently at the center of the scandal. Singer has already pleaded guilty to charges and is reportedly cooperating with federal prosecutors. His organization allegedly helped students cheat on standardized tests, like the SAT, and facilitated bribes to prep coaches who helped students gain access into college with fake athletic credentials. The Hollywood Reporter writes that Huffman’s daughter took the test in December 2017, and received a 1420 on the test – a 400 point improvement from a previous attempt. Related: How to take precautions to avoid back-to-school scams