Following the arrest of more than 50 individuals connected to a $25 million college acceptance scam on Tuesday, Full House actress Lori Loughlin was taken into custody by FBI on Wednesday.
Loughlin made an appearance in court in Los Angeles Wednesday and was released on a $1 million dollar bond.
The 54-year-old actress and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, allegedly "agreed to pay bribes totaling $500,000 in exchange for having their two daughters designated as recruits to the [University of Southern California] crew team — despite the fact that they did not participate in crew — thereby facilitating their admission to USC," according to the indictment.
Loughlin and Giannulli were charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services fraud.
While it is unknown how much jail time Loughlin could face; however, CNN legal analyst, criminal defense attorney and University of Georgia law professor, Page Pate explained the protocol for sentencing in cases such as these in a Law & Crime report.
"Federal sentencing guidelines for fraud are primarily based on the amount of money involved, how sophisticated the fraud was what role the person played in the alleged scheme, and whether they were the 'leader, middle, [or] low-end,'" Pate said.
With that in mind, Loughlin could look at "37-46 months if convicted at trial" and between "27-33 months [if she enters a] guilty plea."
A handful of universities were named as targets for fraud: Georgetown University, UCLA, University of Texas, Yale, Stanford, Wake Forest, University of Southern California and the University of San Diego. The schools, allegedly, were not involved in the exchange. However, some coaches at some of the schools listed in the indictment were named in the scandal for accepting money.
Actress Felicity Huffman, widely known for her role in Desperate Housewives, was arrested Tuesday and could face 18 months in jail for allegedly paying $15,000 to ensure a proctor would improve her daughter's test scores. Huffman's husband, Shameless star William H. Macy was attendance Huffman's bond hearing Tuesday, but could also face charges of his own.
"Huffman and her spouse made a purported charitable contribution of $15,000 to [the Key Foundation] to participate in the college entrance exam cheating scheme on behalf of her oldest daughter," the criminal affidavit reads. "Huffman later made arrangements to pursue the scheme a second time, for her younger daughter, before deciding not to do so."
Huffman is currently out after posting $250,000 bail.
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