Felicity Huffman to plead guilty over college admission scam

Actress Felicity Huffman will plead guilty in the case over a college admission scam.

She is one of 14 people who agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors who will recommend a prison term at the “low end” of the four to 10 months. The maximum penalty is otherwise 20 years.

She also agreed to pay a $20,000 fine and restitution and 12 months of supervised release.

The 14 are among 50 people, including wealthy parents and college team coaches, accused by federal prosecutors in Boston of engaging in schemes that involved cheating on college entrance exams and paying $US25 million in bribes to secure their children admission at well-known universities.

Huffman, who starred in Desperate Housewives, American Crime and Transamerica, is married to William H. Macy (Shameless).

“I am in full acceptance of my guilt, and with deep regret and shame over what I have done, I accept full responsibility for my actions and will accept the consequences that stem from those actions,” she said in a statement.

“I am ashamed of the pain I have caused my daughter, my family, my friends, my colleagues and the educational community. 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.”

Actress Lori Loughlin, who featured on the Full House, is not among those who agreed to plead guilty, and has not publicly addressed the allegations.

Source: ABC, CNN