Like most mothers,Felicity Huffmanwanted her daughters to do well on their college entrance exams so they could get into a good university.
According to federal prosecutors, the 56-year-old actress did things many parents do: encourage her daughters to take practice tests, schedule the SATs for a convenient weekend and even apply for them to have extra time to take the exam.
None of those things are illegal; they’re typical ways for parents to help their kids get a leg up in the ultra-competitive world of college acceptance.
But, according to authorities, Huffman took some extra steps — and they were against the law.
Prosecutors allege dozens of wealthy parents — including Huffman and fellow actressLori Loughlin— paid exorbitant sums to admissions consultant William Singer and his nonprofit organization, Key Worldwide Foundation (“KWF”), which prosecutors said was actually a front for accepting bribes. Prosecutors allege Singer would then help students cheat on their SATs — sometimes without their knowledge — and bribe coaches and administrators to accept into school the children of his wealthy donors.
Singer pleaded guilty on Tuesday to four charges: racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of justice, PEOPLE confirms.
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“Huffman and her spouse made a purported charitable contribution of $15,000 to KWF to participate in the college entrance exam cheating scheme on behalf of her oldest daughter,” the criminal complaint against her alleges. “Huffman later made arrangements to pursue the scheme a second time, for her younger daughter, before deciding not to do so.”
The Phone Calls
According to the 204-page criminal complaint released on Tuesday, Huffman had a series of recorded phone conversations with an unidentified cooperating witness in thealleged scam. The witness, who worked with KWF, allegedly helped cheat on the test for the actress’ daughter.
According to the complaint, the cooperating witness told Huffman that he “controlled” a testing center, and could arrange for a third party to purport to proctor their older daughter’s SAT and secretly correct her answers afterwards.
The witness and Huffman then allegedly exchanged emails about the logistics of the cheating. When the daughter’s high school counselor suggested that she herself would administer the test, Huffman allegedly sent an email to the witness: “Ruh Ro! Looks like [my daughter’s high school] wants to provide own proctor.”
It was not clear from the complaint whether prosecutors allege that the daughter’s answers were doctored or whether someone took the test for her.
The affidavit alleges that Huffman and “her spouse” — actorWilliam H. Macy, who wasnot indicted in the case— later made a $15,000 donation to KWF.
The affidavit alleges that Huffman spoke with the witness again, this time on behalf of her younger daughter.
“She’s so academically driven,” Huffman allegedly said about the younger daughter. “No matter what happens, even if we go, ‘This is a great score,’ that she’ll go, ‘I really want to take it again.'”
William H. Macy, Georgia Macy, Felicity Huffman, Sophia Macy.Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty
The affidavit alleges Macy also spoke to the witness about the couple’s younger daughter. “We’re talking about Georgetown, places like –,” Macy allegedly told the witness as they discussed what scores she needed to get on the SATs.
In another alleged conversation, Huffman worried that her younger daughter’s possible sudden improvement on the test could raise red flags with her tutor.
“I just didn’t know if it’d be odd for the tutor if we go, ‘Oh, she did this on March 9th, but she did so much better in May,'” Huffman allegedly said.
source: people.com
