Lori Loughlin put all her eggs in one basket when she decided not to accept a plea deal in the “College Admissions Scandal”, according to Fox News legal analyst Mercedes Colwin.
Colwin appeared on “America’s Newsroom” Thursday to discuss the charges against Lori Loughlin and her husband fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, and what this could mean for their children and future.
“I think it was a gamble, and a gamble that, frankly, given all of the other parents who’ve pled, who really have light sentences…it was a gamble they lost,” Colwin said on the show.
News of the “College Admissions Scandal” broke in 2019, revealing that Loughlin and Giannulli allegedly paid the scandal’s ringleader William “Rick” Singer $500,000 to ensure their two daughters’ admission to USC, by way of crew team recruitment.
While the couple was originally charged with “conspiracy to commit fraud,” after not accepting the plea deal, the prosecutor tacked on additional charges.
They are now also facing charges for “conspiracy to commit federal program bribery” and “money laundering,” which Colwin pointed out could land them in prison for 40 years if they are convicted.
My thought of the day – I wonder if Lori Loughlin‘s daughter will Row the NFL draftees across the fountains of the Bellagio in a couple of months. USC seems to believe that she’s a hell of a rower
— Mark Lipcaman (@Stlfnz6) January 22, 2020
While discussing the subject with Fox, Colwin also explained that refusing to admit guilt may not only impact the couples’ lives but also implicate their daughters in court.
Not only will their daughters Olivia and Isabella be called into court as witnesses against their parents, but they may also even be charged themselves if their involvement is revealed. After all, both are over the legal age, with Olivia being 20 and Isabella 21.
While Olivia Jade is attempting to put the scandal and her college dreams behind her in pursuit of her Youtube career, many fans weren’t too kind on her December comeback video.
One wrote, “Drop the visiting my parents in jail vlog,” while another followed up with, “The more she talks, the more you understand why her parents had to bribe her way into college.”
While Lori Loughlin is mulling over a daunting 40-year possible sentence, other celebrities involved in the scandal, like “Desperate Housewives” star Felicity Huffman , got off much easier after pleading guilty to their crimes.
While Huffman was sentenced to 14 days in prison, she only ended up serving 11 days behind bars. Her husband “Shameless” actor William H. Macy was not charged in the incident, after reports surfaced that he likely complied with detectives.
Huffman was charged and sentenced for “conspiracy to commit mail fraud” after paying Singer $15,000 to correct her older daughter Sophia’s wrong SAT scores.
All locking up Felicity Huffman did was make her a better criminal
— Frozen Corn Neck (@Bob_Janke) January 18, 2020
Like Colwin, Twitter users are urging Loughlin to just step up, admit guilt and take the plea deal already.
“Lori Loughlin should have just taken the L and went to jail. Felicity Hoffman plead guilty served her time and moved on instead of spending all that money on legal fees,” one tweet pointed out.
Another reads, “Send Lori Loughlin to prison already. I can’t keep reading about this.”
Thankfully for the last Twitter user, one reply predicted this whole thing may soon be coming to an end, writing, “Federal prosecutors aren’t messing around with Lori Loughlin and her husband!! Bet they take a plea deal now, before they charge their daughters.”
Lori Loughlin should have just taken the L and went to jail. Felicity Hoffman plead guilty, served her time and moved on instead of spending all that money on legal fees.
— I will not not be rich (@Inthebayy) January 17, 2020
