celebrity news

What did Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman do and why is she going to jail?


Felicity said she hopes her daughters and husband can ‘forgive her for her actions’ (Picture: AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

It has been announced this week that former Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman will go to jail for 14 days for her part in the college admissions scandal gripping America.

The actress is one of over 40 people accused of paying bribes to influence admissions into elite US colleges and to have been charged for crimes in connection with payments of up to $6million used to get children into schools including Yale, Stanford, Georgetown and USC.

The TV star and American model and actress Lori Loughlin have been just two of the high profile names involved in the case, which also includes other parents and athletic coaches.

So, what exactly did Felicity do and why is she going to jail?

What did Felicity Huffman do and why is she going to jail?

The 56-year-old mother-of-two has been embroiled in the college admissions scandal since March this year when it was reported that she has been taken into custody because she and her husband William H. Macy made a purported charitable donation of $15,000 (£12,000) that authorities believe helped their eldest daughter to get into college.

Felicity’s husband was not indicted but the actress pleaded guilty in May to a charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud in America and paying $15,000 (£12,000) to doctor her older daughter Sophia’s university entrance exams.

Felicity has been sentenced to 14 days jail (Picture: Joseph Prezioso / AFP/Getty Images)

Prosecutors on the case wanted the Hollywood star to spend a month in prison and pay a $20,000 (£15,900) fine. They argued the jail time was important to set an example to other celebrities and high profile figures to show they are not above the law and deter similar crimes in the future.

Felicity’s legal team asked for a year of probation in lieu of jail time, with 250 hours of community service and a $20,000 fine.

Early on Saturday September 14 GMT, Felicity was sentenced to 14 days in prison for her involvement in the illegal scheme and will also have to pay a $30,000 (£23,800) fine, complete 250 hours of community service and be on supervised release for one year after her jail time.

After being handed the sentence, a letter penned by Felicity was released in which she wrote that she hopes her daughters and husband can ‘forgive her for her actions’.

Felicity and her husband with their daughters Sofia Macy and Georgia Macy in happier times
(Picture: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)

‘I accept the court’s decision today without reservation. I have always been prepared to accept whatever punishment Judge Talwani imposed. I broke the law. I have admitted that and I pleaded guilty to this crime. There are no excuses or justifications for my actions. Period,’ she wrote.

Felicity went on: ‘I would like to apologise again to my daughter, my husband, my family and the educational community for my actions.’

MORE: Felicity Huffman’s relationship with daughters ‘exploded’ after the college admissions scandal

MORE: Felicity Huffman apologises to her daughter after college admissions jail sentencing





READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.