Huffman pleads guilty to mail fraud

Felicity Huffman, the American actress, this week pleaded guilty to paying for someone to cheat on her daughter's university entrance exam. According to a report in The Daily Telegraph, Huffman entered her plea at a court in Boston and apologised to other students affected by what she did. She became the highest profile person to admit their role in a widespread bribery and cheating scandal that saw wealthy parents break the law to get their children into prestigious educational establishments. The Emmy-winning star of Desperate Housewives paid $15 000 to have an invigilator secretly correct her daughter's answers on the exam. She was arrested two months ago in an investigation code named ‘Operation Varsity Blues’. In court, Huffman pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and honest services mail fraud. She faces a possible jail term and will be sentenced on 13 September. Prosecutors have recommended in a plea agreement that she be jailed for between four and 10 months, and that she pay a fine of $20 000.