The Justice Department charged at least 50 people on Tuesday in a college entrance scheme that involved crimes dating back to 2011.
The big picture: In what U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling called the "largest college admittance scam ever charged by the Department of Justice," some defendants allegedly bribed athletic coaches and administrators to falsely portray their children as athletic recruits, while others bribed administrators to allow cheating on college-entrance exams.
Two actresses — Felicity Huffman of "Desperate Housewives" and Lori Loughlin of "Full House"— were charged alongside dozens of others.
An FBI official said during a press conference that approximately 300 special agents from the FBI and IRS set out to arrest 46 individuals this morning. At least 38 have been safely taken into custody, 7 are working toward surrender and 1 is being actively pursued. Among the people charged are 33 parents who paid "enormous sums" to ensure their children's' entrance and 9 coaches. Other parents are believed to have been involved.
Officials say parents spent between $200,000 to $6.5 million.
Lelling said that the colleges are not of interest in the ongoing investigation.
