USC Coach Who Created a Fake Crew Team Profile For Lori Loughlin’s Daughter Olivia Jade to Plead Guilty

Yikes! The University of Southern California soccer coach who made Lori Loughlin‘s daughter Olivia Jade Giannulli‘s fake crew team profile has agreed to plead guilty for her alleged involvement in the nationwide college admissions scandal.

The former assistant coach for USC’s women’s soccer team, Laura Janke, 36, will not only cooperate with the government’s investigation, but she will plead guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering. This update was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts on Tuesday, April 23.

The former coach was one of 12 people who were previously indicted after authorities accused them of being involved in a nationwide college scandal — where tens of wealthy parents supposedly paid bribes to get their children into the most desirable schools around the country.

Janke had been accused of conspiring with the scheme’s ringleader, William “Rick” Singer, to create fake profiles of the children who were wrongly accepted into the prestigious universities. If she is found guilty, she faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a large $250,000 fine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s press release stated.

According to CNN, the plan’s mastermind allegedly reached out to Janke in July 2017 and asked her to make a fake profile for Lori’s daughter. The criminal complaint obtained by the outlet explained that Janke responded, “Ok sounds good. Please send me the pertinent information and I will get started.”

The criminal complaint further elaborated that Singer then emailed Lori to inquire about an “action picture.” Lori’s husband, Mossimo Giannulli, supposedly then replied with a photo of the couple’s youngest daughter working out on a rowing machine.

When the news of the college admissions scandal first broke in mid-March, authorities stated that Lori and Mossimo were arrested after they allegedly paid up to $500,000 worth of bribes to get both of their daughters, Bella, 20, and Olivia, 19, into USC. Both daughters were then accepted to the school as a crew team recruit — despite never showing up to practice or competing in events.

A little over a month from the day they were first arrested, the Full House alum and clothing designer pleaded not guilty on April 15 to two charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. The trial for these folks should be interesting to say the least!