Huffman,one of the best known faces among the 50 celebrities,business executives,sports coaches and others who have been charged in the nation's largest-ever college admissions prosecution,pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.
Since charges were announced in the admissions scandal in March,Huffman has kept a low profile,announcing that she intended to plead guilty and issuing an emotional apology to her family,her friends and her daughter,whom Huffman said had known nothing of the cheating plans. Prosecutors say that a proctor corrected the girl's answers after she left the test facility.
"This transgression toward her and the public I will carry for the rest of my life,"Huffman said in her written apology.
It was uncertain what penalty Huffman would face. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. However,prosecutors have said that they would recommend four months behind bars for Huffman. They also have said that they would recommend a fine of $US20,000 and 12 months of supervised release.
Federal sentencing guidelines are advisory,and judges may impose sentences that are heavier or lighter than the advised range. The plea agreement also notes that Huffman"reserves the right to argue"that her crime actually corresponds to a lower guideline — of zero to six months of incarceration.
Also uncertain was why prosecutors chose not to charge Huffman's husband,actor William H. Macy,despite references in a criminal complaint that suggest that Macy was not only aware of the plans,but also a participant in at least some of them.
According to the prosecutors'complaint,in which Macy was identified only as"Spouse,"Macy had contact with William Singer,the university counselor at the centre of the scandal,who was hired by hundreds of parents to help their children gain admission to elite universities.