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Felicity Huffman handed jail time over college admissions scandal | |
(32 minutes later) | |
US actress Felicity Huffman has been sentenced to 14 days in prison for her involvement in a college admissions scandal. | |
The Desperate Housewives star admitted to paying $15,000 (£11,500) to have her daughter's exam answers secretly corrected in 2017. | The Desperate Housewives star admitted to paying $15,000 (£11,500) to have her daughter's exam answers secretly corrected in 2017. |
She must also do 250 hours of community service and pay a $30,000 fine. | |
Parents and athletic coaches were among the 50 people charged in the scheme, but none of the children were indicted. | Parents and athletic coaches were among the 50 people charged in the scheme, but none of the children were indicted. |
"I am deeply sorry to the students, parents, colleges and universities who have been impacted by my actions," Huffman told the Boston court on Friday. | |
"I am sorry to my daughter, Sophia, my daughter, Georgia, and my husband, Bill. I have betrayed them all." | |
Judge Indira Talwani said she believes Huffman has accepted full responsibility for her actions, but "trying to be a good mother does not excuse" what she did. | |
She must report to prison in six weeks. Prosecutors had asked for a month in prison and a $20,000 fine. | |
The parents charged in the college scam investigation allegedly paid bribes, had exams altered, and even had their children edited into stock photos to fake sporting talents on applications. | |
Prosecutors say they managed to fraudulently secure spots for the teenagers at elite US universities including Yale, Georgetown and Stanford. | Prosecutors say they managed to fraudulently secure spots for the teenagers at elite US universities including Yale, Georgetown and Stanford. |
Huffman pleaded guilty to mail and honest services fraud in May. She is the first parent sentenced in the scandal. | |
Her legal team had asked for a year of probation in lieu of jail time, 250 hours of community service and a $20,000 fine. | |
But prosecutors wrote in a memo last week that "neither probation nor home confinement (in a large home in the Hollywood Hills with an infinity pool) would constitute meaningful punishment or deter others from committing similar crimes". | But prosecutors wrote in a memo last week that "neither probation nor home confinement (in a large home in the Hollywood Hills with an infinity pool) would constitute meaningful punishment or deter others from committing similar crimes". |
What did Huffman do? | |
Huffman worked with the scam's confessed mastermind, William Singer, to falsify a college entrance exam score for her oldest daughter, Sophia Macy. | Huffman worked with the scam's confessed mastermind, William Singer, to falsify a college entrance exam score for her oldest daughter, Sophia Macy. |
Singer arranged Sophia to take her SAT test in a special location. Sophia scored 400 points higher than her last score. | Singer arranged Sophia to take her SAT test in a special location. Sophia scored 400 points higher than her last score. |
In a letter to Judge Talwani, Huffman wrote: "In my desperation to be a good mother I talked myself into believing that all I was doing was giving my daughter a fair shot." | |
"I see the irony in that statement now because what I have done is the opposite of fair. I have broken the law, deceived the educational community, betrayed my daughter and failed my family." | "I see the irony in that statement now because what I have done is the opposite of fair. I have broken the law, deceived the educational community, betrayed my daughter and failed my family." |
Huffman said in her letter to the judge that her daughter had been unaware of the fraud, and was devastated to learn of it. | Huffman said in her letter to the judge that her daughter had been unaware of the fraud, and was devastated to learn of it. |
The actress wrote: "When my daughter looked at me and asked me with tears streaming down her face, 'Why didn't you believe in me? Why didn't you think I could do it on my own?' I had no adequate answer for her. | The actress wrote: "When my daughter looked at me and asked me with tears streaming down her face, 'Why didn't you believe in me? Why didn't you think I could do it on my own?' I had no adequate answer for her. |
"I could only say, 'I am sorry. I was frightened and I was stupid.' In my blind panic, I have done the exact thing that I was desperate to avoid. | "I could only say, 'I am sorry. I was frightened and I was stupid.' In my blind panic, I have done the exact thing that I was desperate to avoid. |
"I have compromised my daughter's future, the wholeness of my family and my own integrity." | "I have compromised my daughter's future, the wholeness of my family and my own integrity." |
Prosecutors said Huffman made arrangements to have Singer cheat for her younger daughter as well before deciding against it. | Prosecutors said Huffman made arrangements to have Singer cheat for her younger daughter as well before deciding against it. |
Huffman's husband - actor William H Macy - also had contact with Singer, though Mr Macy was spared charges. | Huffman's husband - actor William H Macy - also had contact with Singer, though Mr Macy was spared charges. |
Though Huffman was among the most high-profile figures indicted, she paid among the smallest sums allegedly doled out by the parents charged in the scandal, according to court documents. | Though Huffman was among the most high-profile figures indicted, she paid among the smallest sums allegedly doled out by the parents charged in the scandal, according to court documents. |
Lori Loughlin, another Hollywood actress ensnared in the scandal along with her husband, has pleaded not guilty to paying $500,000 in bribes to have their daughters accepted to the University of Southern California as members of the rowing team. | Lori Loughlin, another Hollywood actress ensnared in the scandal along with her husband, has pleaded not guilty to paying $500,000 in bribes to have their daughters accepted to the University of Southern California as members of the rowing team. |
Ms Loughlin is next due in court on 2 October. | Ms Loughlin is next due in court on 2 October. |