Felicity Huffmanand 13 other defendants are pleading guilty in the high-profilecollege admissions cheating scandal, PEOPLE confirms.
In a statement released on Monday afternoon, the Department of Justice says that theDesperate Housewivesstar is one of 14 defendants who have opted to plead guilty.
“I am ashamed of the pain I have caused my daughter, my family, my friends, my colleagues and the educational community,” she continued. “I want to apologize to them and, especially, I want to apologize to the students who work hard every day to get into college, and to their parents who make tremendous sacrifices to support their children and do so honestly.
“My daughter knew absolutely nothing about my actions, and in my misguided and profoundly wrong way, I have betrayed her. This transgression toward her and the public I will carry for the rest of my life. My desire to help my daughter is no excuse to break the law or engage in dishonesty.”
Felicity Huffman on her way into federal court in Boston on April 3, 2019.Charles Krupa/AP/Shutterstock
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The plea comes five days after Huffman appeared alongside other wealthy parents — includingLori Loughlin— in U.S. District Court in Boston for the first time since they were accused, in March, of allegedly taking part in a $25 million scheme to get their children into top colleges.
During their preliminary hearings, they were read the federal felony charges they face after their arrests in March: conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.
Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy.Trae Patton/NBC
On March 12, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts announced that it had charged 50 people, including Huffman and Loughlin, in the cheating scandal. The two actresses, along with coaches, admissions counselors, parents, and Laughlin’s husband, fashion designerJ. Mossimo Giannulli, were indicted on charges of falsifying SAT scores and lying about their athletic skills, among other alleged crimes.
Monday’s Department of Justice statement does not give any information what sentence Huffman or any of the other defendants might face.
source: people.com
