What's Happened in the Hearing with Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman So Far (UPDATED)

UPDATE (May 13, 2019 3:20 p.m. ET) Felicity Huffman arrived at a Boston courtroom on May 13 to officially plead guilty in the college admission scandal. TMZ reports that it could still be another 12-14 weeks before she's officially sentenced, and that she arrived with her brother, Moore; her husband William H. Macy (who is not being charged) was not present.

In exchange for Huffman's plea, prosecutors reportedly recommended the low-end of the sentencing guidelines for the crime: four months of incarceration and a $20,000 fine, according to TMZ.

It's reported that a tearful Huffman also disclosed that her daughter suffered from learning disabilities throughout her life — and that the prosecutors noted that they went light on Huffman and would not enter money laundering charges as they will likely do for Lori Loughlin (and the others who did not agree to earlier plea deals).

UPDATE (April 15, 2019 11:12 a.m. ET) Several indicted parents have entered not-guilty pleas, including Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli. The actress and her husband filed court documents on Monday, April 15, that they plan to waive their right to appear in court for an arraignment and intend to plead not guilty.

UPDATE (April 9, 2019 5:05 p.m. ET) While Felicity Huffman pled guilty on April 8, Lori Loughlin (and several others) did not do so. Now, on Tuesday, April 9, the U.S. Attorney added charges of money laundering and went to a Federal Grand Jury to get an indictment for Loughlin, her husband Mossimo Giannulli, and 14 other defendants. This brings up the projected sentence for all of those people (raising it from two years minimum up to just under six years for Loughlin, for example).

However, as TMZ notes, adding a charge of conspiracy to money launder could then carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

The original story continues below.

April 3 was the day that Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman have likely been dreading. The two actresses — both embroiled in the college-admissions scandal — appeared in a Boston courthouse to face felony charges that include conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.

Quick 411: Mail and wire fraud is the use of mail or wire services, including email, to defraud another for money or property by means of deception. Honest services fraud falls under this umbrella. As you've likely heard, Huffman allegedly paid $15,000 to get her daughter admitted to college by cheating on a college entrance exam, while Loughlin and her husband allegedly paid $500,000 to have their daughters get into college as crew recruits, even though neither one of them rows. 

TMZ reported live on what happened in the courthouse today. In the most recent development, it was reported that Huffman told the judge she understands the seriousness of her charges, and that she's surrendered her passport. Loughlin has also surrendered her passport, and had a quick hearing today. 

Previously, the website reported that though both actresses could cut plea deals, there will likely still be prison time attached. An official said: "You can't have people being treated differently because they have money. That's how we got to this place. Every defendant will be treated the same."

Both actresses face maximum sentences of five years in prison if they're convicted.