Lori Loughlin and husband plead not guilty in college admissions case

Lori Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, are pleading not guilty to charges of mail fraud and money laundering conspiracy stemming from the Operation Varsity Blues college admissions scandal, according to court documents obtained by the Associated Press.

According to the documents filed Monday, Loughlin and Giannulli said they waived their right to appear in Boston federal court for their arraignment. They are accused of paying $500,000 in bribes in order to have their two daughters designated as recruits to the University of Southern California’s crew team, despite the fact that neither of them participated in crew.

Loughlin’s representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment by EW.

The scandal first came to light last month, when the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts announced indictments against a group of wealthy parents and college athletic coaches who allegedly worked together with a man named William Rick Singer to cheat the college admissions process. (Singer is one of the government’s cooperating witnesses.) The methods of the conspiracy included having professionals take ACT and SAT exams on behalf of students, and using Photoshop and cooperating coaches to fabricate athletic backgrounds for students who didn’t actually play sports, according to prosecutors.

The Full House star is one of the most famous names in the court documents, alongside actress Felicity Huffman (American Crime, Desperate Housewives). Huffman announced her intention to plead guilty to mail fraud charges last week, saying, “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 consequences that stem from those actions.” She is scheduled to appear in Boston on May 21 to enter her plea.

Related content:

• The 10 most shocking revelations from the Operation Varsity Blues court documents
• Felicity Huffman pleads guilty, admits ‘deep regret and shame’ over involvement in Operation Varsity Blues
• Lori Loughlin, others indicted for money laundering charge in college cheating scandal