Assistant US attorney Justin O’Connell said Loughlin was unhappy with the benefits her children already had from their wealth and “focused on getting what she wanted no matter how and whoever. ‘or the cost’. He said jail time was needed to send the message that “everyone, regardless of their status, is accountable to our justice system.”

Loughlin initially appeared calm, showing little emotion as her lawyer BJ Trach said she was “deeply sorry” for her actions. But when it was Loughlin’s turn to address the judge, she fought back tears as she apologized.

“I made a terrible decision. I followed a plan to give my daughters an unfair advantage in the college admissions process and in doing so, I ignored my intuition and let myself be swayed by my moral compass, ”he said. she declared. “I have great faith in God and believe in redemption and I will do everything in my power to redeem myself and use this experience as a catalyst to do good.”

Trach said Loughlin started volunteering at an elementary school in Los Angeles with children with special needs.

Describing the “devastating” impact the accusations have had on the family life and career of the 56-year-old actor, Trach said: “Lori lost the acting career she spent 40 years building. . “

Loughlin’s attorney and Giannulli have both hinted at the bullying of their daughters after the charges went public. Brach said the family were forced to hire security guards for their daughters due to the intense publicity and intimidation they faced, and that Loughlin sought to mend his relationship with his daughters.

In the first display of remorse either of them publicly displayed over the fraud, Giannulli told the judge earlier Friday that he “deeply” regretted the harm his actions had caused to his daughters, his wife and others.

“I take full responsibility for my conduct. I am ready to accept the consequences and move forward, with the lessons I have learned from this experience, ”said Giannulli, 57, in a stoic statement.

Accepting Giannulli’s plea deal, Gorton said the prison terms were “sufficient but not harsher than the punishment necessary under the circumstances.” Gorton berated Giannulli for what he described as a “breathtaking fraud” made possible by his wealth and privileges.

“You didn’t steal bread to feed your family. You have no excuse for your crime and that makes it all the more blameworthy, ”the judge told Giannulli before officially condemning him.

As part of the plea deal, Giannulli will also pay a fine of $ 250,000 and perform 250 hours of community service. Loughlin will pay a fine of $ 150,000 and perform 100 hours of community service. Unlike most plea agreements, in which the judge remains free to decide the accused’s sentence, the prison terms proposed by Loughlin and Giannulli were binding once accepted.

The famous couple’s conviction comes three months after they turned the tide and admitted participating in the college admissions cheating program that laid bare the efforts some wealthy parents will go to to get their children into places. elite universities.

They are among nearly 30 prominent parents to plead guilty in the case, which federal prosecutors have dubbed “Operation Varsity Blues.” He discovered big bribes to bring undeserving kids to college with faked test results or fake athletic credentials.

Loughlin and Giannulli had insisted for more than a year that they believed their payments were “legitimate donations” and accused prosecutors of withholding crucial evidence that could prove the couple’s innocence, as it would jeopardize their case.

Their about-face came shortly after the judge rejected their offer to drop the case over allegations of misconduct by federal agents.

The affair shattered the net image of Loughlin, who rose to fame for his role as the sane Aunt Becky on the sitcom “Full House” which ran from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s, and is later became the queen of the Hallmark channel with her holiday films. and the series “When the heart is called”.

Other parents who were sentenced to jail in the case later urged the judge to allow them to serve their sentences at home due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Gorton, known at the courthouse for delivering severe penalties, rejected such requests.

Until Friday, the couple had not made any public statements since their arrest and – unlike all other parents sentenced to extreme sentences in the case – they did not submit letters expressing regret or supportive notes from family and friends to the judge before the deadline, although the Gorton said he received two letters of support for Loughlin on sentencing day.

Prosecutors said Giannulli deserved a harsher sentence because he was “the most active participant in the scheme”, while Loughlin “played a less active role, but was nonetheless fully complicit”.

The couple funneled money through a fictitious charity operated by Singer to bring their two daughters to USC as crew recruits, though neither was a rower, authorities said. Singer, who also pleaded guilty, was expected to testify against them if they had been tried.

Investigators had recorded phone calls and emails showing the couple had worked with Singer to get their daughters into USC with fake sports profiles describing them as star rowers. In an email, Singer told Loughlin and Giannulli that he needed a photo of their eldest daughter on a rower in sportswear “like a real athlete.”

Prosecutors said the couple allowed the girls “to become accomplices in crimes,” asking them to pose on rowers for photos and warning their younger daughter not to tell her high school counselor too much to avoid getting hurt. to take.

When the advisor started questioning his crew’s credentials, Giannulli angrily confronted the advisor and asked him why he was “trying to ruin or hamper their opportunities,” the advisor wrote in detailed notes in documents. judicial.

After the couple managed to bribe their youngest daughter at USC, Singer forwarded a letter to them saying she was allowed entry due to her “potential to make a significant contribution to the varsity athletic program,” wrote prosecutors.

Loughlin replied, “This is wonderful news! (high-five emoji), ”according to court documents.

“Desperate Housewives” actress Felicity Huffman is among the prominent parents who were sent to jail for participating in the scam. She spent nearly two weeks behind bars late last year after admitting to paying $ 15,000 to have someone mark her daughter’s answers on the entrance exam.