Actress Lori Loughlin has finished her two-month prison sentence. Reuters
Actress Lori Loughlin has finished her two-month prison sentence. Reuters
Actress Lori Loughlin has finished her two-month prison sentence. Reuters
Actress Lori Loughlin has finished her two-month prison sentence. Reuters

'Full House' actress Lori Loughlin released from prison after college admissions scandal


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American actress Lori Loughlin, 56, was released from prison on Monday after serving a two-month sentence for her part in a scam to secure spots for privileged children at prestigious universities, authorities said.

The actress, known for her role as Aunt Becky in the 1980s-'90s hit sitcom Full House, had entered a low-security federal prison in Dublin, about 30 miles east of San Francisco, on October 30.

Actress Felicity Huffman of Desperate Housewives fame was released in October 2019 from the same prison after serving 11 days of a two-week sentence for her role in the scam.

Loughlin and her husband, designer Mossimo Giannulli, were among some 50 people indicted over the elaborate scam.

She and her husband were sentenced by a federal judge in August after having pleaded guilty.

The pair admitted to paying $500,000 to gain admission for their two daughters to the University of Southern California as recruits to the rowing crew team – a sport neither had ever trained in.

Loughlin was also sentenced to two years of supervised release, a $150,000 fine and 100 hours of community service.

Giannulli, 57, described by prosecutors as the more active participant of the duo, was sentenced to five months, a $250,000 fine and 250 hours of community service.

He began serving his sentence on November 19 at the Lompoc prison near Santa Barbara, California.

The ringleader behind the college admissions scam, William "Rick" Singer, who authorities say was paid about $25 million to bribe coaches and university administrators, has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing, expected sometime next year.

Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms. 

About Takalam

Date started: early 2020

Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: HealthTech and wellness

Number of staff: 4

Funding to date: Bootstrapped