When news of the college admissions bribery scandal first went public in March, two actresses quickly emerged as the most prominent figures ensnared in the FBI’s “Varsity Blues” sting operation. Now, one of them has been sentenced to prison for attempting to buy her daughter’s way into the school of her choice. Five months after Felicity Huffman pled guilty to paying out $15,000 in bribes to rig the SATs in her child’s favor, the actress — best known for her role in the ABC drama Desperate Housewives — has been sentenced to 14 days behind bars. Huffman spoke in her own defense at her sentence hearing this afternoon, echoing her attorney’s claims that she did not realize anyone would be harmed by her actions. “I am deeply sorry to the students, parents, colleges and universities impacted by my actions.” she told the judge. “I have inflicted more damage (on her daughter) than I could’ve ever imagined,” Huffman continued. “I was frightened, I was stupid and I was so wrong. I am deeply ashamed of what I have done.” In addition to her jail time, the 56-year-old received a $30,000 fine, 250 hours of community, and one year of supervised release. Huffman was joined in court by her husband, actor William H. Macy. The couple bee-lined to waiting SUVs after leaving the courtroom and did not speak with members of the press. Huffman will start her prison sentence on a yet-to-be-determined date in the near future. While Huffman got off with a slap on the wrist (Prosecutors originally wanted her to serve four months in prison, but reduced their recommendation to one month following a favorable parole report.), her status as a convicted felon will follow her for the rest of her life. This means that she will never be able to own a firearm (probably not a matter of great concern to the actress), and will not be allowed to vote until she’s completed her probation. In the wake of the news about Huffman’s sentencing, many thoughts turned to her alleged co-conspirator Lori Loughlin. The Full House actress is the other famous face associated with the scandal, and she’s in a much tougher position than Huffman. Loughlin turned down the plea deal that Huffman accepted — this, despite facing far more severe charges. (While Huffman pled guilty to shelling out $15,000 in bribes, Loughlin stands accused of doling out $500,000 to help secure admission to USC for both of her daughters.) Strangely, Huffman’s sentence might translate to good news for Loughlin, as it’s considered a major defeat for prosecutors, who might now be inclined to offer the actress a second plea deal. Hopefully, this time, she’ll be smart enough to take it. We’ll have further updates on this developing story as more information becomes available.
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Felicity Huffman Sentenced to 14 Days In Prison For Role In College Admissions Scandal
