Felicity Huffman Released On $250,000 Bail In College Admissions Probe

[left-of-center2012]

Actress Felicity Huffman was released on a $250,000 bond Tuesday night after her arrest in a nationwide college admissions scandal in which she was accused of using bribes to ensure her daughter attends a top college. A magistrate judge in Los Angeles said the “Desperate Housewives” star could be released as long as she remained inside the United States, according to The Associated Press. She was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud.

Huffman, 56, is accused of paying $15,000 disguised as a charitable donation to enable her elder daughter to cheat on the SAT, which she took in December 2017. Court documents showed that Huffman and Macy met with a cooperating witness at their home in Los Angeles, where the witness told the couple he “controlled” a testing center for college entrance exams and could have their daughter’s SAT answers secretly changed, AP reported. The couple allegedly agreed to the plan.

Huffman opened the door early Tuesday morning to FBI agents who had their guns drawn, citing a source familiar with the incident. She spent several hours in federal custody before appearing in court to hear her charges. FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller told the L.A. Times that the agency did not use a tactical team to arrest the actress but that FBI agents “are armed and may draw their weapons as a precautionary measure.”

Huffman and “Full House” actress Lori Loughlin are two of at least 40 celebrities, executives and athletic officials charged Tuesday in a massive bribery scheme, where prosecutors said wealthy parents paid up to $6 million in bribes to college coaches and workers at testing centers to help their children get admission into elite, selective colleges. Loughlin was not taken into custody Tuesday and, along with her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, is accused of paying $500,000 to get their two daughters into the University of Southern California by having them falsely appear as athletic recruits.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/felicity-huffman-bail-college-admissions-scandal_n_5c88623fe4b038892f487e44

[happybird]

1. Why was William H. Macy not charged?

I keep seeing reports that they agreed, as a couple, to the fraud.

[PoliticAverse]

5. Maybe they saw Edmond and thought he was already in prison. n/t

[MaryMagdaline]

6. Inconclusive statements on tape

Feds only like slam dunk cases

[underpants]

2. Sorry but this has to be done

[Blue_Tires]

7. Good one...

I was expecting the tired-but-still-awesome "We're not a bank, Jerry" -reference

[DontBooVote]

3. "Huffman opened the door early Tuesday morning to FBI agents who had their guns drawn" ...

Oh please, oh please, oh please ... by all that is holy, PLEASE let that orange turd and his evil spawn and henchmen see the same thing some early morn - soon!

[mitch96]

13. "FBI agents who had their guns drawn"

After all she was a Desperate Housewife.....
m

[DontBooVote]

14. I know, right!? The first thing I thought when I read that was that it was odd to do that with

someone who was otherwise benign and where there was absolutely no reason to think they should have to cover themselves thusly.

But it would be so satisfying to see that happen to Derwood and his Dumbfucks.

[Tipperary]

4. "Guns drawn"

Wtf?

[wishstar]

8. Just wish a cooperating witness had been taping the Trump campaign transactions

Ironic that Feds got enough evidence to arrest and indict dozens for cheating and lying to get kids into college but we haven't been able to actually nail anyone for any illegality involving conspiring with Russians to put Trump into WH. Even with Cohen's recordings, so far Trump is being kept off limits to be charged with campaign finance violations over the hush money.

[NightWatcher]

9. $15k for college acceptance and now $250k bond?

Rich people who are accused of financial crimes shouldn't be able to pay their way out of it.

Sit her in lockup for a week, right next to the black kid facing a year for a joint in their pocket who was picked up and who can't throw thousands of dollars to make it go away.

[Merlot]

11. Loughlin paid 500K and wasn't taken into custody?

I know this is the LA Times and Huffman lives there, but were there any stories about CEO's opening their doors to FBI agents pointing guns?

[obamanut2012]

12. She is in Canada filming her drecky Hallmark show

I don't know why the Mounties haven't arrested her, though.

[smirkymonkey]

10. This is bullshit.

Guns drawn? Come on! I do not think it is fair for people to cheat and bribe their way into give their children an edge into getting into prestigious colleges, but this is overkill.

Wealthy families have been doing this since the beginning of higher education. It has always been that way and they have always gotten away with it. Do you think George W. Bush, Jared Kushner or any of the Trumps got into their Ivy League universities on their own merits?

I think it's ridiculous that they are making a big deal of it now and going after (mostly liberal) celebrities, when as usual, the wealthy establishment elite will escape censure and penalty.

[Johnny2X2X]

15. None of these parents end up serving jail time

My prediction is none serve jail time, all pay fines and maybe get community service. We have 2 criminal justice systems in this country, these parents will get to enjoy the one for the rich.