Actress Lori Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges in connection with the widespread college admissions bribery scandal.

The couple is accused of paying $500,000 to ensure their daughters' admission to the University of Southern California as athletic recruits for the crew team, despite neither girl being an athlete. The couple is among 50 people charged in what the Justice Department says is the largest college admissions cheating scandal it has investigated.

Many of those involved were arrested last month and charged with conspiring with the mastermind of the scheme, William Singer, to bribe test proctors to change their children's test scores and with college athletic coaches to recruit the students as athletes, despite them not playing a sport, in order to get them admission to competitive universities.

Loughlin and Giannulli are among 16 parents who were indicted last week on additional charges, including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, by a federal grand jury in Boston.

Authorities say Loughlin and Giannulli assisted Singer in creating fake athletic profiles for their daughters. The Associated Press reported that after the couple's eldest daughter was admitted to the university, Giannulli emailed Singer thanking him for his "effort and end result!"

The couple has not addressed the allegations publicly and they waived their right to appear in court for arraignment. Each charge against them carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

Following news of the scandal, their daughter Olivia Jade Giannulli, a prominent figure on social media, was released from deals with Sephora and TRESemme.

Actress Felicity Huffman and 12 other parents pleaded guilty last week to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. Huffman is accused of paying $15,000 to boost her daughter's SAT score.

