College entrance cheating scandal

[kaytieeldr]

Do you have a link for this?

No, sorry, I stand corrected. The news was reporting the amounts each party paid, not any fine.

What about Lori's husband, is in court today too? I don't like that the mom's seem to be the ones in the most trouble when obviously the dads were involved too!

He's not a household name, but he's named in most news reports.

Today was the preliminary hearing for the official reading of the charges to the defendants. The two actresess got all the press but I believe all the accused parents were in court.

Yes (this time I'm sure ). Another parent they mentioned by name has two homes in (wealthy commuin) Massachusetts, and owns a to company. Here, I guess.

 

[tex1989]

So just to clarify it is not a MA prosecuter, but a Federal one as the crimes they committed are on the Federal level. Macy apparently was not indicted because they have no evidence of his participation. A wife is not compelled to testify against her husband, she can but probably not in this case. The charges exceed mere bribery. I have not seen the actual indictment but can imagine it involves, bribery, crimes crossing state lines which bring RICCO charges, mail fraud, electronic fraud, tax violations and possibly more. The founders of the scheme will no doubt be hit with charges for tax evasion, and misuse of a charitable 501 organization. These type of cases usually involve multiple charges and pages and pages of indictments. Any money mentioned to this point is bail pure and simple. In addition one article I read said Laughlin had surrendered her passport and given the nationality of her husband who was also in court I am sure he surrendered his as well. Most defendants certainly have the means to flee so I bet most surrendered their passports. They were also advised that as Federal indictees they could not have any firearms in their homes. These are fairly standard practices when someone is indicted.

 

[cabanafrau]

He was there too and was read the charges. I think the media is focusing on her because she is the more famous. I vaguely remembered his name when they said he was a clothing designer. Then I remembered his name is on some labels of Target clothing I own. But, he hasn't designed for Target in a few years. Otherwise, his name would now be dragged through the mud too.

As for William H. Macy, he was implicated in either phone calls or emails Felicity wrote. But, he hadn't written any emails of his own, or made any phone calls that were recorded and catching him committing a crime. According to my unprofessional, "TV legal dramas" experience even though Felicity said he knew about what was going on, it's considered Hearsay (talking about someone in the third person,) and not admissible in court. So he hasn't been charged with any crime. Plus, I think if they were going to try to charge him, if they could, Felicity would throw herself under the bus for him and say she lied. That he really didn't know any of what she was doing. She only said he knew. Their marriage is tight. It's bad enough one of them would be going to prison. And one career ruined.

I can't find any report that says he went to court with Felicity. She came alone with her lawyers. It could be that his PR people or her lawyers are trying to distance him from this. He still is a star of the show Shameless, which is coming back for a 9th season.

That's not what hearsay is. Hearsay is one person saying what they heard another person say. As to whether it's admissible in court, that's not as cut and dried as you've stated either. There are various hearsay exceptions in the court rules.

 

[tex1989]

He's not a household name, but he's named in most news reports.

Maybe not to every one but since my wife and grown daughter are faithful Target shoppers the Mossimo brand that Target featured for so long is familiar and that's his brand/ company.

 

[cabanafrau]

I haven't read through all of the replies, but this just seems like one symptom of a much larger problem in the U.S., I don't know if there's one specific word to use, but it's basically this cavalier, everyone for themselves attitude, where it doesn't matter what you do, as long as you get ahead of others, by any means necessary. I've heard that part of it is the "me" generation? A time when people were told to focus on themselves and not worry about others, or being a community, etc.

I've been to other countries where you don't see any of that.

It's difficult to function as a progressive society where people are doing this kind of activity, and it's not being stopped, and more damaging, many people don't care. We even have "reality" TV shows, court shows, etc. to show the seedy underbelly (scripted or not) of society. Instead of trying to improve ourselves, lots of people are just trying to get ahead by pushing others down, laughing at others misery and misfortune, and losing the entire point of self-awareness and improvement in the process.

sorry, getting off my soapbox now

You've "been to other countries where you don't SEE any of that"? Every country has its issues, many lurking unseen below the surface or requiring more than a casual glance to appreciate the nuances of what's going on behind the facade. America is no different in this regard. Specific issues may vary, but humanity is humanity.

 

[Imzadi]

Lifestyles of the Rich & Brainless. . . Now Lori Loughlin's daughter is publicly blaming her parents for all this upset she is going through.

Throw your parents, who may be going to prison, under a bus.

 

[lifesavacation]

Today I read that Stanford not only expelled a student who was admitted using fraudulent information, they also revoked credits the student had earned.

https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow...discipline-20190408-story.html?outputType=amp

 

[Magical2017]

Today I read that Stanford not only expelled a student who was admitted using fraudulent information, they also revoked credits the student had earned.

https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow...discipline-20190408-story.html?outputType=amp

Wow. I can go both ways on this. On one hand, if you got in under false pretenses, anything you earned is null and void. On the other hand, if they earned those credits, they earned those credits. Unless it can be proved that they cheated on assignments and exams, then one has to go on the presumption they did the coursework and earned the grade they have. Tough situation. I am glad I am not having to make those decisions!

 

[lifesavacation]

Wow. I can go both ways on this. On one hand, if you got in under false pretenses, anything you earned is null and void. On the other hand, if they earned those credits, they earned those credits. Unless it can be proved that they cheated on assignments and exams, then one has to go on the presumption they did the coursework and earned the grade they have. Tough situation. I am glad I am not having to make those decisions!

I think it comes down to the school revoking admission. That would null and void all credits AND degrees.

 

[barkley]

FELICITY PLEADS GUILTY-

FROM TMZ:

Felicity Huffman has thrown in the towel in her college cheating scandal ... pleading guilty, along with 13 other parents.

The former "Desperate Housewives" star was one 14 people who entered guilty pleas Monday. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud as well as honest services mail fraud.

Felicity Huffman, 56, of Los Angeles, Calif, ,paid Rick Singer $15,000 to rig her daughter's SAT test. The girl had twice the amount of time as normal to take the exam and the proctor corrected her answers afterward.

As for sentencing ... no word. TMZ broke the story, our sources in the prosecutor's office say they wanted some prison time. The prosecutor recommends a sentence to the judge, and the judge has the final word.

The maximum sentence is 20 years in prison.

Lori Loughlin and her husband were not part of the plea deal.

 

[jdb in AZ]

FELICITY PLEADS GUILTY-

FROM TMZ:

Felicity Huffman has thrown in the towel in her college cheating scandal ... pleading guilty, along with 13 other parents.

The former "Desperate Housewives" star was one 14 people who entered guilty pleas Monday. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud as well as honest services mail fraud.

Felicity Huffman, 56, of Los Angeles, Calif, ,paid Rick Singer $15,000 to rig her daughter's SAT test. The girl had twice the amount of time as normal to take the exam and the proctor corrected her answers afterward.

As for sentencing ... no word. TMZ broke the story, our sources in the prosecutor's office say they wanted some prison time. The prosecutor recommends a sentence to the judge, and the judge has the final word.

The maximum sentence is 20 years in prison.

Lori Loughlin and her husband were not part of the plea deal.

In a statement read on CNN, Ms. Huffman said her daughter had no knowledge of the cheating. Felicity apologized to her, and to parents who have sacrificed to pay for their children's college.

 

[soccerdad72]

If Huffman is pleading, I bet that there will be no jail time involved.

 

[Magical2017]

I think it comes down to the school revoking admission. That would null and void all credits AND degrees.

I feel sorry for the kids who truly did not know. Imagine working four years for an undergrad degree and then finding out your parents were involved, and then having that degree null and void.

In a statement read on CNN, Ms. Huffman said her daughter had no knowledge of the cheating. Felicity apologized to her, and to parents who have sacrificed to pay for their children's college.

No knowledge. Riiiiiggghhhttt.

 

[kaytieeldr]

More specifically, Huffman and a dozen other parents will be pleasing guilty. Not a done deal yet.

 

[mnrose]

I feel sorry for the kids who truly did not know. Imagine working four years for an undergrad degree and then finding out your parents were involved, and then having that degree null and void.

No knowledge. Riiiiiggghhhttt.

That's what I say. Every kid knows what amount of time is allocated for those tests....she had to know she got a WHOLE bunch of additional time. And, to suddenly go from an "ok" score to an unbelievably high score...the kid bloody well knows she did not deserve that score.

 

[Prince_Hawkins]

If Huffman is pleading, I bet that there will be no jail time involved.

I don't see jail time as an appropriate punishment for these parents.

Huffman's and Loughlin's careers will probably be finished now, on the other hand; and deservedly so.

 

[arminnie]

I don't see jail time as an appropriate punishment for these parents.

Huffman's and Loughlin's careers will probably be finished now, on the other hand; and deservedly so.

I don't think they need to go away for years and years - but I am of the belief that even a 30 day sentence would have far more impact on their lives than even a ginormous fine.

 

[Prince_Hawkins]

I don't think they need to go away for years and years - but I am of the belief that even a 30 day sentence would have far more impact on their lives than even a ginormous fine.

How about a week in solitary confinement? Then Lori might actually realize the impact of her actions, rather than driving around in her celebrity tour bus?

 

[orangecuse]

I think Huffman’s apology was very classy- especially contrasting to Loughlin’s giggling and signing autographs.

My guess is Huffman’s older daughter may not have known exactly what was happening, even if she questioned the circumstances. Her younger daughter wasn’t involved at all though and I bet its supremely awkward to find out mommy and daddy were going to pay for your test had you not done well on your own.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

How about a week in solitary confinement? Then Lori might actually realize the impact of her actions, rather than driving around in her celebrity tour bus?

In my opinion that is far too lenient. I’d be willing to bet many parents in this country would voluntarily spend a week in solitary confinement if it gauranteed their kid’s acceptance to an elite school.