Loughlin, 57, attended the DesignCare 2022 Gala, a benefit for the HollyRod Foundation, in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 18, 2022—her first public appearance since the college admissions scandal first broke in 2019. The Fuller House star wore a dark teal high-neck, knee-length dress with long sleeves with silver high-heeled sandals and accessorized with a matching silver clutch with gold clasp. She wore her hair down with a slightly off-center part and had on minimal, neutral-toned makeup. In March 2019, Loughlin and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, were accused of paying $500,000 in bribes to get their daughters Olivia Jade and Isabella Rose admitted to the University of Southern California (USC) as coxswain recruits for the crew team, even though neither of them ever rowed in high school. David Livingston/Getty Images William “Rick” Singer, credited as the mastermind behind the scheme, posed as a college admissions consultant through his nonprofit organization, Key Worldwide Foundation. Investigators found that the foundation wasn’t an actual charity, but merely a coverup for his true business: bribing rich kids into college. Loughlin and Giannulli initially pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and honest services mail and wire fraud. After rejecting the plea deal, they (and 16 other parents implicated in the widespread scam) were slapped with additional charges of money laundering in April 2019. Phillip Faraone/Getty Images Facing up to 20 years on each charge of money laundering, the pair changed their tune. In May 2019, Loughlin pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, while Giannulli pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud. Loughlin was sentenced to two months in prison and a $150,000 fine. She began her two-month sentence in October 2020 and was released in late December 2020. Giannulli was fined $250,000 and sentenced to five months behind bars, two years of supervised release and 250 community service hours. He first reported to federal prison in November 2020. On April 3, 2021, he was released to “community confinement,” which The Associated Press reported could be home confinement or a halfway house. He was released from overall confinement on April 17, 2021. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/Getty Images For her part, the DesignCare 2022 Gala isn’t Loughlin’s only comeback. In September 2021, Hallmark announced she’d reprise her fan-favorite role of Abigail Stanton in Season 2 of When Calls the Heart spinoff When Hope Calls. Next, find out what Felicity Huffman said about her role in the college admissions scandal.
