Actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin are among dozens of people charged Tuesday in a nationwide college admissions cheating scandal, accused of paying up to $6 million to get their kids into elite schools.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston described it “a nationwide conspiracy that facilitated cheating on college entrance exams and the admission of students to elite universities”Athletic coaches, parents and exam administrators were also implicated.

The schools include Yale, Stanford, Georgetown University and the University of Southern California, federal prosecutors said.

Huffman, who played Lynette Scavo on the ABC series Desperate Housewives, and Loughlin, known for her role as Aunt Becky on the ABC sitcom Full House, were each charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.


At least 14 other people were charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, two were charged with money laundering conspiracy, and one was charged with conspiracy to defraud United States. In total, 50 people have been charged.

Andrew Lelling, U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, said in a news conference Tuesday families paid a combined $25 million, mostly funneled through charitable accounts, to bribe coaches and university administrations between 2011 and 2018.

A rep for Loughlin said Tuesday she had “no info to share at this time.”

This story is developing. Check back for updates.