Actress Lori Loughlin arrested in college admissions scandal released on $1m bail

Actor Lori Loughlin appears in this court sketch at a hearing for a racketeering case involving the allegedly fraudulent admission of children to elite universities at the US federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles, California (Picture: REUTERS)

Actress Lori Loughlin has been released on a $1 million (£754,000) bail after she was arrested as part of the college admissions scandal.

The star of Full House, along with Desperate Housewives actress Felicity Huffman and dozens of others, is accused of being involved in a scheme which saw bribes paid to help get their children into some of America’s best universities.

Loughlin, 54, appeared in court yesterday charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.

Investigators claim she and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, paid $500,000 (£377,000) to get their daughters Olivia, 19, and Isabella, 20, into the University of Southern California as fake rowing-team recruits. Neither of the girls participate in the sport.

Actress Felicity Huffman is seen inside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and US Courthouse in Los Angeles on Wednesday (AFP/Getty Images)

Magistrate Judge Steve Kim ordered her to limit her travel to the US and Canada, where she had been filming for work before her arrest.

Lori Loughlin, centre, and daughters Olivia Jade Giannulli, left, and Isabella Rose Giannulli (Getty Images)

Mr Giannulli faced the same charges on Tuesday and was forced to put their house up as collateral to pay his $1 million bond.

Ms Huffman was charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud before being released on $250,000 (£189,000) bail. Her husband, actor William H Macy, accompanied her to court but has not been indicted in the investigation.