Court Day In Boston For Celebs In College Admissions Scandal

Actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman are among more than a dozen people expected to appear in federal court in Boston on Wednesday April 3rd in the  nationwide college-admissions cheating scheme involving major universities including USC and UCLA.

Loughlin, best known for her role as Aunt Becky on “Full House,” and her husband J. Mossimo Giannulli are accused of paying nearly a half-million dollars to have their two daughters admitted to USC as recruits to the university’s crew team, even though neither of them had ever participated in the sport.

Huffman, famous for her work on “Desperate Housewives,” is accused of paying $15,000 disguised as a charitable donation to the nonprofit Key Worldwide Foundation — run by the scheme’s admitted ring-leader, William Rick Singer, to have someone correct her daughter’s answers on the SAT.

Huffman’s husband, award-winning actor William H. Macy, is not charged in the scheme.

Loughlin, 54, and Huffman, 56, are both charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. Loughlin and Giannulli are both free on $1 million bond, while Huffman is free on $250,000 bond.

Fifty people have been indicted in connection with the scheme. Singer, 58, of Newport Beach, pleaded guilty last month in Boston to charges including racketeering conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Federal officials said the scheme involved wealthy parents paying sometimes-exorbitant bribes to bolster their children’s chances of being admitted to elite universities.

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)