Mossimo Giannulli was just granted early release from prison for his involvement in the Varsity Blues college admissions scam, leaving the Santa Barbara County penitentiary he’s spent the past four months at last Friday, April 2nd.
The fashion designer, 57, was ‘surprised’ by all three of his children including infamous influencer daughter Olivia Jade, who decided to join the welcoming party ‘at the last minute’ half-brother Gianni Giannulli told Extra’s Billy Bush.
Olivia, 21, and sister Bella, 22, traveled to the Santa Barbara area last Thursday and stayed overnight close to the Lompoc Federal Correctional Institution before being allowed to pick dad at 8:30am on Friday.
Mossimo, whose actress wife Lori Loughlin was released from a Dublin, California prison last December, is now under home confinement, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to the Associated Press.
Supportive: Mossimo Giannulli’s daughters Olivia Jade and Bella ‘surprised’ him by coming to pick him up from a Santa Barbara, California area prison upon his early release last Friday
Gianulli and Loughlin pleaded guilty last year to paying half a million dollars to get their two daughters into the University of Southern California.
Loughlin was released from a prison in December 2020 after spending two months behind bars.
Giannulli was set to complete his sentence on April 17, but was released from prison early to serve out the end of his sentence at home.
‘Lori is relieved that he was released from the prison. Mossimo is still in federal custody though,’ the source told People.
The two were among the most high-profile parents charged in the scheme, which authorities say involved hefty bribes to get undeserving teens into schools with rigged test scores or bogus athletic credentials.
Homebound: Mossimo, whose actress wife Lori Loughlin was released from a Dublin, California prison last December, is now under home confinement. He’s seen in August 2019 above
There for him: Olivia, 21, and sister Bella, 22, traveled to the Santa Barbara area last Thursday and stayed overnight close to the Lompoc Federal Correctional Institution before being allowed to pick dad at 8:30am on Friday. They’re seen with mom Lori above
Giannulli was released to home confinement on Friday, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
He is expected to serve the remainder of his sentence at home, the person said. The person could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Giannulli, whose Mossimo clothing had long been a Target brand until recently, had been in custody at a federal prison in Lompoc near Santa Barbara. He reported in November and was scheduled to be released in April.
A release to home confinement in Giannulli´s case is not out of the ordinary, in part because of the short nature of his sentence.
Crimes: Mossimo and Lori pleaded guilty last year to paying half a million dollars to get their two daughters into the University of Southern California. They’re seen in April 2019 above
Records show he is under the supervision of a Bureau of Prisons facility in Long Beach, that manages a halfway house as well as inmates who are under home confinement.
The records say he will be released from home confinement on April 17.
The Justice Department has ordered the increased use of home confinement and the expedited release of eligible inmates by the Bureau of Prisons – with priority for those at low- or medium-security prisons – starting with virus hot spots.
But advocates have raised concerns about racial and financial inequities in those who are granted home confinement.
In Touch first reported Giannulli’s release.
Change of heart: Loughlin and Giannulli initially pleaded not guilty, claiming they believed they were making a legitimate contribution to USC with their $500,000 payment to Singer
Giannulli’s attorneys and Bureau of Prisons officials did not immediately return requests for comment Saturday.
Loughlin and Giannulli initially pleaded not guilty, claiming they believed they were making a legitimate contribution to USC with their $500,000 payment to Singer.
Facing up to 40 years behind bars each, they later reversed course and struck a plea deal with prosecutors.
Loughlin was released from federal lockup at CI Dublin in California on December 28, where she served the entirety of her two month prison sentence, as stated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The Full House star reportedly had a ‘tearful’ reunion with her daughters Olivia Jade, 21, and Bella Rose, 22, when she finally returned to their Malibu mansion.