Sports & Entertainment Beat

The Largest College Admissions Bribery Scandal Erupted in the United States With a Number of Celebrities as Targets

In the early weeks of March, news broke of the largest college admissions scandal in the country's history, nicknamed "Operation Varsity Blues".  At least 40 people were charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud for their alleged participation in the scheme. Among those charged was actress, Lori Loughlin, who is most famous for her role as Aunt Becky on ABC's hit sitcom series Full House. Charges against her allege that, in order to get her children into the University of Southern California ("USC"), Loughlin paid $500,000 to have her daughters designated as crew recruits, although it is reported that they did not participate in that sport. One day after 14 parties involved in the scheme agreed to plead guilty, 16 parents, including Loughlin and her husband, were charged in a second indictment for conspiring to commit fraud and money laundering. Loughlin has refused to plead guilty and plans to fight these charges.