Actress Felicity Huffman was sentenced to 14 days in federal prison on Friday for her involvement in a nationwide bribery scandal that was meant to secure placement at elite colleges for her teenage daughter and the children of other wealthy, high-profile parents.
Huffman, 56, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and fraud in May for paying $15,000 to have a proctor correct mistakes made on her daughter’s SAT in 2017. Concerned that her daughter’s low math scores would prevent her from attending an elite college, Huffman admitted to paying the fee to the scheme’s ringleader, William “Rick” Singer, and disguising the money as a charitable contribution.
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During her sentencing, the judge noted that Huffman had not involved her daughter in the scheme and had one of the smallest bribes involved in the scandal.
Dozens of other parents were also charged in relation to the scheme. Other parents paid up to $500,000 to improve the collegiate future of their academically challenged teens. Of the 34 parents charged, 15 have so far pleaded guilty and are expected to serve limited jail sentences and pay various fines. Huffman, known for her longtime role in Desperate Housewives, had asked the judge for leniency in sentencing in her case.
Actress Lori Loughlin was also charged in the scheme but pleaded not guilty with the intention of fighting the charges of conspiracy and fraud against her. Loughlin, 55, and her husband, designer Mossimo Giannulli, were both charged after allegedly paying $500,000 to manipulate the admissions team of the University of Southern California into accepting their daughters on an athletic basis. Loughlin, Giannulli, 19 other indicted individuals are expected to fight the federal charges at a later date.
Huffman’s husband, Shameless actor William H. Macy, was not charged in the scheme.
