Actress Felicity Huffman begins her prison term
LOS ANGELES: Actress Felicity Huffman on Tuesday began serving a two-week prison term for her role in a college admissions scam in which she paid a bribe to help her daughter gain admission to a prestigious university.
The “Desperate Housewives” star turned herself in at the lowsecurity Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, about 35 miles (55 kms) east of San Francisco, in the early morning.
“Ms Huffman is prepared to serve the term of imprisonment Judge (Indira) Talwani ordered as one part of the punishment she imposed for Ms. Huffman’s actions,” a representative for the 56-year-old actress said in a statement to AFP.
“She will begin serving the remainder of the sentence Judge Talwani imposed — one year of supervised release, with conditions including 250 hours of community service — when she is released.”
The Oscar nominee, who is married to actor William H. Macy, was the first of more than 30 parents sentenced in an elaborate and wide-ranging scam to help children of the elite secure places in top US colleges.
Huffman, who was also fined US$30,000, pleaded guilty in May during a tearful court appearance to paying US$15,000 to boost her daughter’s SAT college entrance exam score.
The scandal erupted in March when the ringleader behind the scam, William “Rick” Singer, admitted running the elaborate fraud which ranged from cheating in entrance exams to bribing coaches to help non-athletic students get scholarships.
Authorities say he was paid about US$25 million to bribe coaches and university administrators. He has pleaded guilty and is cooperating with authorities.
In a statement read in court at her sentencing last month, the actress apologised to students and parents.
“I broke the law. There are no excuses or justifications for my actions. Period,” she said.
“My hope now is that my family, my friends and my community will forgive me for my actions,” Huffman added.
Actress Lori Loughlin from 1980s-90s sitcom “Full House” and her husband are facing similar charges. The pair have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.