The fight wasn’t over until it was...and it basically is. The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that 55-year-old Lori Loughlin, and her 56-year-old designer husband Mossimo Giannulli, have agreed to plead guilty in their respective cases. She, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, and he to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud. If the judge approves the plea deal now agreed to:
Loughlin will be sentenced to two-months in prison, with two years’ probation and 100 hours of community service. She’ll also fork over a $150-thousand fine.
Giannulli, on the other hand, will head up the river and spend five-months in prison He’ll also shell out $250-thousand in fines, be on probation for two years and serve 250 hours of community service.
Why the differences? As the DO-J- points out Giannulli did more. “The defendants will serve prison terms reflecting their respective roles in a conspiracy to corrupt the college admissions process,” United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling says in a statement “We will continue to pursue accountability for undermining the integrity of college admissions.”
As for the “why now,” it’s pretty simple. You’ll likely recall that the defense team was alleging government misconduct and arguing that the couple believed they were making legitimate donations, not bribes. Judge Nathaniel Gorton denied their motion to dimiss on May 8th, and the couple was headed for a trial in October. The couple are expected to enter their pleas remotely this morning.
Source: Department of Justice