Getting into college is a lot of hard work. Particularly the college of your choice. You can have your sights set on a certain university, notably one of high standards, and if you don't have either the grades or the cash (or both) to make it work, it can be hard to accept defeat. Sure, maybe you got into a few other schools you applied to. But there's always one college you had your eye on, and sometimes, things don't always work out the way you want it to. A lot of times, people have to rest with their bitter feelings.
But for some folks, including celebrity actresses like Academy Award-nominee Felicity Huffman and Fuller House's Lori Loughlin, a few drastic measures might reportedly need to take place. Specifically, breaking a couple laws. At least, that's according to a new police report that made a splash earlier today.
According to a developing story reported by ABC News, Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin are reportedly among upwards of 50 people (or maybe more) who are being investigated and charged by federal prosecutors in Boston in regards to a massive nationwide cheating scam involving college admissions. The details are a bit murky from a press standpoint, but the operation, codenamed Varsity Blue, found a collection of 33 parents who paid a collective $25 million to college admissions counselor William Singer in what is now be called the biggest college admissions cheating scam to ever be prosecuted in United States' history. Wowza.
In a "catalog of wealth and privilege," as it was described by U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling, the parents involved in this ongoing criminal investigation reportedly exchanged money for William Singer to "allegedly bribe college officials," as well as coaches and college entrance exam administrators, in order to help the children of the parents secure their admissions into the college of their choice. Therefore, these soon-to-be college students would be getting into their universities through "fraud" and "not their merits," as it was described by Lelling.
There's no telling how broad and wide-reaching this reported college admission cheating operation went, but it was a massive conspiracy if these ongoing police reports are, indeed, factual.
According to officials involved in this criminal case, 13 people have been arrested by the FBI in Los Angeles. 38 of the 50 defendants that have been charged at this time are currently under arrest and/or in custody at the moment. That includes Felicity Huffman, who is currently under house arrest. Now might not be the time for jokes, but talk about a desperate housewife.
Lori Loughlin, meanwhile, is in Canada at the moment, for reasons not publicly stated, and she is not currently in custody. Though there is a good chance that'll change soon. Authorities are reportedly trying to contact her at the moment, and she knows that she will likely be arrested as soon as she return to the States. We'll continue to keep you posted.
Additionally, William Singer pleaded guilty to the charges made against him in this case, and he is reportedly working with the police in order to track down the parents who allegedly paid large sums of money in order to use his illegal services. More details should arrive in this enveloping case. We'll provide you with updates.
