Inside Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli’s Virtual Sentencing Hearing: Everything We Learned

Credit: CJ GUNTHER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Inside Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli’s Virtual Sentencing Hearing: Everything We Learned

More than a year after being indicted in the nationwide college admissions scandal, Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli are facing the music. Giannulli’s sentencing began at 11:00 a.m. ET. The 57-year-old fashion designer sat next to his attorney, Sean Berkowitz, and wore a dark suit on the Zoom. Hours later, Loughlin's hearing began at 2:30 p.m. ET. The 56-year-old actress was sentenced to two months of prison, two years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service and a $150,000 fine. The couple was arrested in March 2019 for allegedly paying $500,000 in bribes to ensure their daughters would be accepted into the University of Southern California as crew recruits even though they do not play the sport. Loughlin and Giannulli share daughters Bella Giannulli, now 21, and Olivia Jade Giannulli, now 20. While the twosome initially pleaded not guilty, Loughlin and Mossimo changed their pleas in May. During Friday’s hearing, Judge Nathaniel Gorton signed off on the designer’s plea deal, which includes five months in prison, two years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and 250 hours of community service. After agreeing to the terms of his plea deal, Judge Gorton reprimanded the father of three. (Mossimo is also the father of adult son Gianni from a previous relationship.) [jwplayer 31X3jFds-l3ahXupL] "You are an informed, smart businessman. You certainly knew better,” the judge said. “You were not stealing bread to feed your family. You have no excuse for your crime and that makes it all the more blameworthy.” Judge Gorton also came down hard on Loughlin. "I am dumbfounded,” he said. “You have more money than you could need — a fairy-tale life, yet you stand before me a convicted felon. For what? So you could grab even more?" Loughlin and Mossimo were among nearly 30 parents to plead guilty in the case, dubbed Operation Varsity Blues by prosecutors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Kearney also spoke at the hearing, telling Mossimo he displayed “a complete disregard for right and wrong” and a “privileged and entitled attitude.” Kearney also called attention to accusations that the couple instructed Olivia Jade to conceal the scheme from her high school guidance counselor. She told Mossimo that he acted "above the law" and essentially asked that adviser, “Don't you know who I am?” Scroll through for all of the details of the virtual hearings:

Credit: CJ GUNTHER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Inside Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli’s Virtual Sentencing Hearing: Everything We Learned

More than a year after being indicted in the nationwide college admissions scandal, Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli are facing the music. Giannulli’s sentencing began at 11:00 a.m. ET. The 57-year-old fashion designer sat next to his attorney, Sean Berkowitz, and wore a dark suit on the Zoom. Hours later, Loughlin's hearing began at 2:30 p.m. ET. The 56-year-old actress was sentenced to two months of prison, two years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service and a $150,000 fine. The couple was arrested in March 2019 for allegedly paying $500,000 in bribes to ensure their daughters would be accepted into the University of Southern California as crew recruits even though they do not play the sport. Loughlin and Giannulli share daughters Bella Giannulli, now 21, and Olivia Jade Giannulli, now 20. While the twosome initially pleaded not guilty, Loughlin and Mossimo changed their pleas in May. During Friday’s hearing, Judge Nathaniel Gorton signed off on the designer’s plea deal, which includes five months in prison, two years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and 250 hours of community service. After agreeing to the terms of his plea deal, Judge Gorton reprimanded the father of three. (Mossimo is also the father of adult son Gianni from a previous relationship.) [jwplayer 31X3jFds-l3ahXupL] "You are an informed, smart businessman. You certainly knew better,” the judge said. “You were not stealing bread to feed your family. You have no excuse for your crime and that makes it all the more blameworthy.” Judge Gorton also came down hard on Loughlin. "I am dumbfounded,” he said. “You have more money than you could need — a fairy-tale life, yet you stand before me a convicted felon. For what? So you could grab even more?" Loughlin and Mossimo were among nearly 30 parents to plead guilty in the case, dubbed Operation Varsity Blues by prosecutors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Kearney also spoke at the hearing, telling Mossimo he displayed “a complete disregard for right and wrong” and a “privileged and entitled attitude.” Kearney also called attention to accusations that the couple instructed Olivia Jade to conceal the scheme from her high school guidance counselor. She told Mossimo that he acted "above the law" and essentially asked that adviser, “Don't you know who I am?” Scroll through for all of the details of the virtual hearings:

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The Zoom

Judge Gorton addressed the decision to have a virtual hearing due to the coronavirus pandemic at the top of the hearing. He also asked whoever was speaking to move closer to their microphone throughout the hearing.

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How Much Lori Knew

Loughlin’s attorney downplayed her involvement in the case, insisting she knew less than other parents indicted in the scheme. Similar to Mossimo’s defense, her lawyer pointed out that Loughlin didn’t go to college. 

“Lori was never pitched Singer’s college entrance cheating scheme nor was Lori ever made aware that such college testing schemes even existed,” her lawyer said. “In April 2016, Singer proposed to Moss a plan to tip the scale in favor of admission to USC by leveraging a donation to the school’s athletics department, which is now referred to as the side door. Now, Lori did not participate in this call with Singer. Indeed, Lori did not have any direct communications with Singer about this so-called ‘side door’ claim.”

In addition to referring to Loughlin as a “passive” participate in the scandal, the lawyer claimed she only communicated with Singer 15 times via email over several years.   

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Lori’s Letters

Loughlin’s attorney read quotes from letters on her behalf, including one note from a friend whom the actress assisted during his cancer battle and another from the mother of a young girl who Loughlin bonded with backstage at Fuller House.

“She sat with us and chatted, holding hands with my thrilled daughter and stayed with us in the green room all day for hours. She was like an old friend,” Loughlin said. “Her face really lit up when she proudly told us about her daughters.” 

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Lori Gets Emotional

The actress paused to wipe her tears as she addressed the judge. 

"I made an awful decision. I went along will the plan to give my daughters an unfair advantage in the college admissions process,” she began. “In doing so, ignored my intuition and allowed myself to be swayed from my moral compass. I thought I was acting out of love for my children, but in reality, I had only undermined and diminished my daughters’ abilities and accomplishments.”

Loughlin continued: “While I wish I could go back and do things differently, I can only take responsibility and move forward. I have great faith in God and I believe in redemption and I will do everything in my power to redeem myself and use this experience as a catalyst to do good and give back for the rest of my life.”

She concluded with an apology. “Your honor, I am truly, profoundly and deeply sorry,” she said. “I am ready to face the consequences and make amends. Thank you for your time.”

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Mossimo Takes the Blame

“He regrets deeply bringing his wife into the scheme, he regrets deeply the consequences this has had for his family. His children have been bullied both in social media and in person," Berkowitz said. “The family has been the face of the crisis and the scandal.”

Berkowitz, however, also claimed that his client needed assistance in the college process because he didn’t go to a university. (Olivia Jade previously claimed that her dad used the money his parents gave him to attend USC to start his fashion brand.)

“Mr. Giannulli did not attend or graduate from college. He and his wife needed assistance in order to help navigate the process,” Berkowitz said on Friday, noting mastermind Rick Singer was recommended to the family.  “[He] recommended Rick Singer to them as a renowned college counselor who could help guide them through the process. At the time, he was not presented as a felon or a huckster or a fraud.”

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The Applications

According to Berkowitz, no one in the Giannulli family ever even saw Bella or Olivia Jade’s official college applications but accepts responsibilities for taking the pictures of his daughters on the rowing machine.

“When Mr. Singer made the recommendation of the side door, Moss ignored alarm doors, red flags and he went ahead and assisted by taking pictures,” Berkowitz said.

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Mossimo’s Statement

While Felicity Huffman, who was sentenced to two weeks in prison for her role in the scandal, submitted letters to the judge from husband William H. Macy, friend Eva Longoria and even wrote a plea herself, Mossimo did not submit any family or friends’ statements. He addressed the court briefly during the hearing.

“I deeply regret the harm that my actions have caused my daughters, my wife and others. I take full responsibility of my conduct. I am ready to accept the consequences and move forward with the lessons I’ve learned from this experience. Thank you.”

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When (and Where) He’s Serving His Time

Mossimo was ordered to start his sentence by Thursday, November 19, 2020, before 2 p.m., which gives him 90 days to report. He also has 60 days to pay the $250,000 fine. After his lawyer requested Mossimo serve his time at Lompoc Camp in California, the judge agreed to make that recommendation to the Bureau of Prisons.

With additional reporting by Marjorie Hernandez

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When (and Where) She’s Serving Her Time

Loughlin also has 90 days to report to prison. Her attorney asked the judge to recommend Victorville Prison in Southern California.