Felicity Huffman outside of federal court in Boston, MA, April 3, 2019; Paul Marotta/Getty Images(BOSTON) — Former Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman will return to court May 21 to officially enter her guilty plea in the “Varsity Blues” college admissions scam that rocked elite schools this spring.
The Boston Herald reports Huffman was initially to have appeared in court on May 24, but the date was moved to accommodate her lead attorney’s schedule.
Huffman, 56, is among 14 defendants who agreed Monday to plead guilty in U.S. District Court in Boston to a charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years probation and a $250,000 fine, based on the prosecutors’ recommendation.
The Boston Herald reports prosecutors will likely recommend an incarceration of months for Huffman, rather than years.
The actress released a statement Monday saying in part that she’s “ashamed of the pain” she has caused her family.
“I am in full acceptance of my guilt, and with deep regret and shame over what I have done, I accept full responsibility for my actions and will accept the consequences that stem from those action,” said Huffman’s statement.
The actress, who was Oscar-nominated for her role in the 2005 film Transamerica, allegedly gave $15,000 to William “Rick” Singer, whom prosecutors identified as the ringleader of the nationwide scam, “to participate in the college entrance exam cheating scheme on behalf of their oldest daughter,” court documents allege.
Huffman and her husband, fellow actor William H. Macy, later made arrangements to pursue the scheme a second time for her younger daughter before deciding not to do so, court documents allege. Macy wasn’t charged in the admissions scam.
Former Full House actress Lori Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, were also indicted as part of the scam. They were hit Tuesday with additional charges, including a count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. They remain free on one million dollars bail each.
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