Sources Say Feds May Try to Make an Example of Lori Loughlin
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – MAY 19: Actress Lori Loughlin (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
Lori Loughlin may have more to worry about than she realizes. According to a new report from People Magazine, the feds may send a message about money and status with the Fuller House star’s sentencing.
“They really want to make sure that there isn’t this perception that these people are able to skate by because they’re rich,” a legal source told People. “They want to make sure everyone is equal in the eyes of the law.”
On Tuesday after reportedly rejecting a plea deal earlier in the week, Loughlin and husband Mossimo Giannulli were hit with additional money laundering charges that see them facing up to 40 years behind bars with each charge carrying a possible 20 years.
The couple is accused of paying $500K to get their daughters into USC as part of a massive nationwide college admissions scam dubbed “Operation Varsity Blues.”
Actress Felicity Huffman is also charged in the case, but agreed to a plea deal on Monday, apologizing for her involvement.
But Loughlin has reportedly been in a bit of denial as to the severity of the case, leading to authorities’ hitting her and her husband with the additional charges.
“They know this is a high profile case and they want to make an example of the defendants,” says the source.
But Loughlin reportedly doesn’t want to do any prison time and was willing to risk tougher charges to go to trial.
“[The prosecutors] are saying that the only way anyone’s going to escape jail time is if they go to trial and are found not guilty,” the source said. “But they’re saying that they have such meticulous evidence that it would be foolish to take that risk.”
According to E! News, after weeks in denial, the actress is now “freaking out” at the severity of the situation.
“Lori is finally realizing just how serious this is,” a source told E!. “She is seeing the light that she will do jail time and is freaking out.”
