Lori Loughlin is armed with new evidence which could prove crucial in exonerating her and her husband Mossimo Giannulli in the college admissions scandal.

The couple claims to have proof that the mastermind behind the sprawling scheme, Rick Singer, was told by FBI agents to lie about whether parents knew they were paying bribes, rather than legitimate donations.

In a February 26 motion to postpone Loughlin and Giannulli's upcoming trial date, attorney Sean Berkowitz wrote that prosecutors had handed over notes from Singer's iPhone describing the alleged FBI coercion.

'Singer's notes indicate that FBI agents yelled at him and instructed him to lie by saying that he told his clients who participated in the alleged "side door" scheme that their payments were bribes, rather than legitimate donations that went to the schools,' Berkowitz wrote.

Although the judge denied the request to postpone and set a court date for October 5, Loughlin and Giannulli remain confident that the evidence will help get them off.

'They are not upset that the date didn't get moved,' a source close to the couple told People. 'Any new development that might challenge the prosecution's allegations is good for them.'

Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli claim to have proof that FBI agents told Rick Singer to lie about whether parents involved in his college admissions scam knew they were paying bribes, rather than legitimate donations. Loughlin and Giannulli are seen leaving court in Boston last April after pleading not guilty to federal charges

In a February 26 motion to postpone Loughlin and Giannulli's upcoming trial date, attorney Sean Berkowitz outlined notes from Singer's iPhone in which he detailed the alleged FBI coercion. Singer is seen leaving federal court in Boston last March

'This is a defense attorney's dream and a prosecutor's nightmare,' criminal defense lawyer James J Leonard Jr, who is not representing anyone in the case, told the outlet.

'This changes everything.'

Loughlin and Giannulli were among the 33 parents indicted in Singer's admissions scam last March.

They are accused of paying $500,000 to get their daughters Isabella Rose, 21, and Olivia Jade, into USC by designating them as recruits to the crew team, even though neither girl ever rowed.

The couple pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit federal program bribery - arguing that the money they paid was meant as a donation.

Their lawyers say the newly-discovered notes from Singer further support that argument.

Loughlin and Giannulli are accused of paying $500,000 to get their daughters Olivia Jade Giannulli (left) and Isabella Rose Giannulli (right) into the University of Southern California as crew recruits even though neither was a rower

Olivia Jade was photographed on Wednesday in Beverly Hills

The YouTube star appeared carefree as she left lunch with friends while her parents' trial nears

Singer wrote that FBI agents yelled at him and told him to lie to get parents to say things in recorded phone calls that could be used against them.

'Loud and abrasive call with agents. They continue to ask me to tell a fib and not restate what I told my clients as to where the money was going - to the program and not the coach and that it was a donation and they want it to be a payment,' he wrote, according to the February 26 filing.

'This belated discovery ... is devastating to the government's case and demonstrates that the government has been improperly withholding core exculpatory information, employing a "win at all costs" effort rather than following their obligation to do justice,' Berkowitz stated.

Prosecutors said Singer's notes weren't given to the defense until last month because the government believed they were privileged and didn't review them further after discovering them in October 2018.

Berkowitz called that explanation 'bogus', and accused the government of 'egregious prosecutorial misconduct'.

'The fact that someone made a donation to USC with the goal of getting their children into USC is not a crime,' BJ Trach, another attorney for Loughlin and Giannulli, told the judge.

But assistant US Attorney Eric Rosen argued that the payments were still an illegal quid pro quo regardless of whether Singer called them bribes or donations.

'Just because it was called a donation doesn't make it legitimate,' Rosen told the judge.

Loughlin and Giannulli could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted.

Nineteen parents, including Loughlin and Giannulli, are currently fighting charges in the scandal while 15 others have already been sentenced after pleading guilty.

Fellow actress Felicity Huffman served two weeks in prison in exchange for paying $15,000 to have her daughter's test scores tweaked to get her a higher score after she took the exam.

Former CEO Douglas Hodge has been given the longest sentence so far - nine months - after paying $850,000 in bribes to get his children into top tier schools.

Hot Pockets heiress Michelle Janavs was sentenced on February 25 to five months in prison after paying $300,000 for her two daughters.

Felicity Huffman (left) served two weeks in prison in exchange for paying $15,000 to have her daughter's test scores tweaked to get her a higher score after she took the exam. Hot Pockets heiress Michelle Janavs (right) was sentenced on February 25 to five months in prison after paying $300,000 for her two daughters