Celebrity pair plead in college scheme

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Full House star Lori Loughlin and her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, pleaded guilty Friday to paying half a million dollars to get their two daughters into the University of Southern California as part of a college admissions bribery scheme, but a judge has not decided whether he’ll accept the deals they made with prosecutors.

The couple appeared on separate screens during their video hearing, both sitting with a lawyer, as the prosecutor detailed their crimes. Neither made any comments other than to answer questions from U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton.

Loughlin and Giannini had been scheduled to go to trial in October on charges that they got their two daughters into the university as crew recruits, even though neither girl was a rower. Prosecutors say they funneled money through a sham charity operated by college admissions consultant Rick Singer, who has pleaded guilty to orchestrating the scheme.

Under their proposed deals, Loughlin, 55, hopes to spend two months in prison and Giannulli, 56, is seeking to serve five months. Loughlin also has agreed to pay a $150,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service. Giannulli has agreed to pay a $250,000 fine and perform 250 hours of community service.

However, the judge said he wanted to review a presentencing report and scheduled a hearing for Aug. 21.

Loughlin and Giannulli were among dozens of wealthy parents, athletic coaches and others charged last year in the bribery scheme.