College Admissions Scam: Lori Loughlin Taken Into Custody

By Brent Lang

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – Lori Loughlin has turned herself into the FBI in advance of a court hearing Wednesday. The “Full House” star is one of nearly 50 people entangled in a sweeping college admissions bribery scam .

“Desperate Housewives” actress Felicity Huffman and TPG Growth founder Bill McGlashan are also facing federal charges as part of the probe.

Loughlin was taken into custody a short while ago by FBI agents, according to a spokesperson for the agency. She will be booked at the Metropolitan Detention Center and is expected to appear before a federal magistrate at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon at U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

Prosecutors are accusing wealthy parents such as Loughlin of paying between $200,000 and $6.5 million to get their children into elite universities. These scams include everything from faking SAT and ACT scores to paying college coaches to have their kids designated as athletic recruits.

Loughlin allegedly paid $500,000 to have her two daughters labeled as rowers who were being recruited to the University of Southern California. Prosecutors say those were false claims as neither girl is a member was being eyed by the crew team. Loughlin’s husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, was released on $1 million bond Tuesday. Loughlin was in Canada when arrests were made.

Loughlin’s attorney arranged with prosecutors on Tuesday to allow her to travel to Vancouver for work as a condition of her bond.