New charge vs. holdout Lori
Actress Lori Loughlin and her hubby were among nearly a dozen parents slapped with fresh bribery raps in the college-admissions scandal Tuesday as new details emerged in the couple’s case. Federal prosecutors had vowed to ramp up the pressure on holdout defendants in the explosive saga, giving them a deadline of this past Monday to cop to deals or face new charges. The feds held true to their word Tuesday, unveiling a new indictment from a Boston grand jury that added a conspiracy charge in most of the outstanding cases — while revealing additional details involving Loughlin and her fashiondesigner husband, Mossimo Giannulli.
The court papers included an August 2016 e-mail from admitted college-admissions fixer William “Rick” Singer to the pair in which he told them he needed a copy of their daughter’s transcript and test scores “very soon while I create a coxswain [crew] portfolio for her . . . It would probably help to get a picture of her on an ERG [indoor rowing machine] in workout clothes like a real athlete too.”
The former “Full House’’ star (left) and her husband are accused of shelling out $500,000 in bribes to Singer to get their two daughters into the University of Southern California by passing the teens off as crew athletes. Neither of the girls had ever rowed.
Giannulli allegedly responded, “Fantastic. Will get all.”
He and his wife then paid Singer $200,000, according to the feds.
“I want to thank you again for your great work with [our older daughter], she is very excited and both Lori and I are very appreciative of your efforts and end result!’’ Giannulli told Singer in an e-mail, according to the papers.
When Singer asked if they were interested in him doing the same thing for their other child, Loughlin replied, “Yes USC for [our younger daughter]!” the documents said. More payments were eventually made.
Tuesday’s added charge involves conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery and carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison. Loughlin and Giannulli already face charges of wire fraud and money laundering. Lawyers for the couple did not return a request for comment.