Felicity Huffman Releases Statement After Sentenced To 14 Days In Prison In College Scandal

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Update 9/13/19: Huffman was sentenced to 14 days in prison after pleading guilty to felony fraud charges in the college admissions scandal and a representative from the Department of Justice tells HollywoodLife that “the Bureau of Prisons will designate her to a facility.” Edward Molari, Massachusetts criminal defense lawyer, also weighed in and EXCLUSIVELY tells us that “she will likely serve all, or almost all, of those 14 days. There are provisions for things like credit for participating in programming, but with a short sentence it is (1) unlikely that she will have access to any significant programming, (2) unlikely that she would be prioritized over other people to be placed in that programming, and (3) and in any case, federal prisoners do not have good time awarded until after serving one year.”

Actress Felicity Huffman has been sentenced to 14 days in prison after pleading guilty to felony conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud in May 2019. Additionally, she has been ordered to pay a $30,000 fine and complete 250 hours of community service, and will have a year of supervised release. The Desperate Housewives star, 56, tearfully accepted her judgement during her September 13 hearing as the judge and jury condemned her for her involvement in the infamous college admissions scandal. Felicity’s sentencing comes after confessing to paying the scandal’s ringleader, Rick Singer, $15,000 to have a proctor alter her daughter, Sophia Macy‘s SAT scores in the hopes that the improved results would get her into a better college.

Walking into the courthouse with her husband, William H. Macy, Felicity looked grim about her chances. She could be seen tightly clutching William’s hand, wearing no makeup, and refusing to speak to the press. Inside the courtroom, with her husband sitting grimly in the front row, Felicity apologized. “I am deeply sorry to the students, parents, colleges, and universities who’ve been impacted by my actions. I am sorry to my daughter Sophia, and Georgia, and I am sorry to my husband Will. I have betrayed them. [Sophia] said to me, ‘I don’t know who you are anymore, Mom.’ Then she asked, ‘Why didn’t you believe in me? Why didn’t you think I could do it on my own?’

“”I can only say, I am so sorry Sophia,” says Felicity Huffman. “I was frightened, I was stupid, and I was so wrong. I am deeply ashamed of what I’ve done.” Though Felicity could have gotten a maximum 20 years in prison for her crimes,  prosecutors ultimately suggested one month in prison, followed by “12 months of supervised release,” as well as a $20,000 fine, according to according to court documents obtained by HollywoodLife. Her lawyers fought for her to receive probation and community service over time behind bars. A source close to Felicity told HollywoodLife EXCLUSIVELY days before her sentencing hearing, that the Desperate Housewives star was eager to  “accept the punishment and start putting this whole ordeal behind her.”

And it appears that she did, in fact, make her peace with it. Felicity released a statement via her lawyers following the sentencing: “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. I would like to apologize again to my daughter, my husband, my family and the educational community for my actions. And I especially want to apologize to the students who work hard every day to get into college, and to their parents who make tremendous sacrifices supporting their children.

“I have learned a lot over the last six months about my flaws as a person. My goal now is to serve the sentence that the court has given me. I look forward to doing my community service hours and making a positive impact on my community. I also plan to continue making contributions wherever I can well after those service hours are completed. I can promise you that in the months and years to come that I will try and live a more honest life, serve as a better role model for my daughters and family and continue to contribute my time and energies wherever I am needed. My hope now is that my family, my friends and my community will forgive me for my actions.”

Still to come is the sentencing hearing for Fuller House star Lori Loughlin, 55, and her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, 56. They couple pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering after allegedly bribing an admissions official at the University of Southern California with $500,000 to admit their two daughters, Olivia Jade and Isabella Giannulli to the college as rowing team recruits. Neither daughter had ever participated in the sport.