A Look Back at the College Admissions Scandal Involving Lori Loughlin, Mossimo Giannulli and Felicity Huffman

Fans were shocked when it was revealed that Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli were involved in the college admissions scandal, dubbed Operation Varsity Blues. Below, Star looks back on the ordeal that sent shockwaves through Hollywood — and the rest of the country.

Shocking Federal Indictment

In March 2019, Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli were among dozens of parents indicted on fraud and bribery charges in a nationwide college admissions scheme after the FBI discovered they’d paid $500,000 conspiring with college admissions consultant Rick Singer to get their daughters into USC.

Another Shamed Star

Unlike the Giannullis, Emmy winner Felicity Huffman, 62, quickly admitted her involvement in the scandal: She paid $15,000 to have a proctor correct SAT questions answered incorrectly by her innocent daughter. The Desperate Housewives actress served 11 days behind bars.

Shunned by Hollywood

Lori lost her starring role in the Hallmark series When Calls the Heart and was cut from the cast of the Fuller House reboot. Though Target had phased out Mossimo’s eponymous brand a few years earlier, the company publicly confirmed it had severed ties with the designer.

Doing Time

In 2020, Lori and Mossimo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud; he faced additional fraud charges. She was sentenced to two months in federal lockup while he served five months in prison. Both also paid hefty fines — $150,000 for her, $250,000 for him.

Return to Acting

After lying low for a year, Lori was welcomed back to work. In 2021, she appeared in the spinoff When Hope Calls on Great American Family, which she followed with two 2023 holiday TV movies. She’s since appeared on Blue Bloods, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Prime Video’s On Call. “I have a lot of gratitude,” she told Entertainment Tonight in 2024.