The attorneys of actress Felicity Huffman are asking for no prison time for the $15,000 she paid to have her eldest daughter’s SAT exam answers corrected to raise the score.
What We Know:
- The college consultant she worked with, Rick Singer, has pleaded guilty to four felonies for accepting payments from these wealthy parents to either get their children into college as “athletic recruits” or cheat to improve their ACT or SAT scores.
- Huffman pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. This recent request was included in the 161-page sentencing memo filed in Boston federal court Friday that included personal letters from Huffman and 27 others vouching for her character, including former co-star Eva Longoria.
- Prosecutors are now recommending Huffman serve a month in prison instead of the previously sought four months they desired as well as 12 months of supervised release and $20,000 fine. U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling and assistant US attorneys stated in a memo about the sentence that “Huffman’s conduct was deliberate and manifestly criminal: it was wrong, she knew it was wrong, and she actively participated in manipulating her daughter’s guidance counselor, the testing services and the schools to which her daughter applied…”
- In her letter, Huffman states “Please, let me be very clear; I know there is no justification for what I have done…Yes, there is a bigger picture, but ultimately it doesn’t matter because I could have said ‘No,’ to cheating on the SAT scores. I unequivocally take responsibility for my actions and will respectfully accept whatever punishment the court deems appropriate.”
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The Justice Department also on Friday outlined its recommendation in a sentencing memo that argues Huffman’s actions were driven by “by a sense of entitlement, or at least moral cluelessness.”
- With her sentencing September 13, she will be the first parent sentenced in the national college admission scandal. Huffman is one of 23 people (out of the 51 people charged) that have plead guilty in the “Varsity Blues” scandal.
Definitely will keep my eyes open for the sentencing hearing. The story will be updated at BNA.
