People magazine reports that Lori Loughlin is considering guilty plea to spare children from charges or testifying

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      The U.S. college-admissions scandal is back in the news today, courtesy of People magazine.

      Citing an unnamed source close to actor Lori Loughlin, the publication has reported that the former Full House star is considering changing her plea to protect her daughters.

      The Daily Mail has already claimed that one of Loughlin's daughters is under criminal investigation.

      “She is like a mama bear when it comes to the girls, and she will do whatever she has to do to protect them from prosecution, especially malicious prosecution," the source told People.

      Loughlin was filming the TV series When Calls the Heart in the Vancouver area when charges were laid on March 12.

      Two days later, the Hallmark Channel halted productions involving her.

      Unlike Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman, Loughlin pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud earlier this month in the District of Massachusetts.

      The U.S. Attorney's Office subsequently unveiled a fresh indictment adding the charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.

      Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal has reported that federal prosecutors have sent letters to some college students and graduates whose parents have been implicated in the scandal.

      The paper stated that these students have been informed that they may also be targets in the investigation.

      A Vancouver businessman, David Sidoo, has also pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

      Prosecutors claim that a Harvard-educated resident of Florida, Mark Riddell, took SAT exams for two of Sidoo's sons and a high-school graduation test for the older boy.

      Riddell has entered a guilty plea for his role in the scandal.

      Sidoo's legal team has said that their client denies all of the charges.

      "He strongly contests the legal and factual basis for these allegations and will rely on his defense team to defend him in future court proceedings."

       

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