Mossimo Giannulli - Revision history

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 {{MetaDescription|Mossimo Giannulli, fashion designer and Lori Loughlin's husband, served 5 months for the Varsity Blues scandal. Learn about the $500,000 bribery case.}}
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	\| birth_date = June 4, 1963		\| birth_date = June 4, 1963
	\| birth_place = Los Angeles, California		\| birth_place = Los Angeles, California
	\| ~~conviction~~ = Conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud		\|charges = Conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud
	\| sentence = 5 months in federal prison, 2 years supervised release, $250,000 fine, 250 hours community service		\| sentence = 5 months in federal prison, 2 years supervised release, $250,000 fine, 250 hours community service
	\| facility = USP Lompoc		\| facility = USP Lompoc

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	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Mossimo Giannulli - Varsity Blues \| Prisonpedia		\|title=Mossimo Giannulli - Varsity Blues \| Prisonpedia
			\|title_mode=replace
	\|description=Mossimo Giannulli, fashion designer and Lori Loughlin's husband, served 5 months for the Varsity Blues scandal. Learn about the $500,000 bribery case.		\|description=Mossimo Giannulli, fashion designer and Lori Loughlin's husband, served 5 months for the Varsity Blues scandal. Learn about the $500,000 bribery case.
	}}		}}
	[[Category:High-Profile Federal Offenders]]		[[Category:High-Profile Federal Offenders]]
	[[Category:Varsity Blues Scandal]]		[[Category:Varsity Blues Scandal]]

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	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Mossimo Giannulli - Varsity Blues ~~Scandal 5 Month Prison Sentence~~ \| Prisonpedia		\|title=Mossimo Giannulli - Varsity Blues \| Prisonpedia
	\|description=Mossimo Giannulli, fashion designer and Lori Loughlin's husband, served 5 months for the Varsity Blues scandal. Learn about the $500,000 bribery case.		\|description=Mossimo Giannulli, fashion designer and Lori Loughlin's husband, served 5 months for the Varsity Blues scandal. Learn about the $500,000 bribery case.
	}}		}}
	[[Category:High-Profile Federal Offenders]]		[[Category:High-Profile Federal Offenders]]
	[[Category:Varsity Blues Scandal]]		[[Category:Varsity Blues Scandal]]

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	\| status = Released (April 2021)		\| status = Released (April 2021)
	}}		}}

	'''Massimo "Mossimo" Giannulli''' is an American fashion designer and entrepreneur who founded the Mossimo clothing brand in the 1980s. The brand became widely known through an exclusive licensing deal with Target stores. Giannulli is married to actress Lori Loughlin. In 2020, both pleaded guilty to fraud charges for their roles in the "Operation Varsity Blues" college admissions scandal, in which they paid $500,000 in bribes to have their two daughters admitted to the University of Southern California as fake athletic recruits. Giannulli was sentenced to five months in federal prison—a longer sentence than his wife received due to his more active role in the scheme.		'''Massimo "Mossimo" Giannulli''' is an American fashion designer and entrepreneur who founded the Mossimo clothing brand in the 1980s. The brand became widely known through an exclusive licensing deal with Target stores. Giannulli is married to actress Lori Loughlin. In 2020, both pleaded guilty to fraud charges for their roles in the "Operation Varsity Blues" college admissions scandal, in which they paid $500,000 in bribes to have their two daughters admitted to the University of Southern California as fake athletic recruits. Giannulli was sentenced to five months in federal prison—a longer sentence than his wife received due to his more active role in the scheme.

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	{{Quote\|You were not stealing bread to feed your family. You have no excuse for your crime and that makes it all the more blameworthy.}}		{{Quote\|You were not stealing bread to feed your family. You have no excuse for your crime and that makes it all the more blameworthy.}}

	The judge called the crime "motivated by hubris" and "defined by wanton arrogance and excessive pride."		The judge called the crime "motivated by hubris" and "defined by wanton arrogance and excessive pride."

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	{{FAQ\|question=Are Mossimo Giannulli and Lori Loughlin still married?\|answer=As of 2025, reports indicate the couple has separated after nearly 28 years of marriage, though they have not officially divorced.}}		{{FAQ\|question=Are Mossimo Giannulli and Lori Loughlin still married?\|answer=As of 2025, reports indicate the couple has separated after nearly 28 years of marriage, though they have not officially divorced.}}
	{{FAQSection/End}}		{{FAQSection/End}}

	== References ==		== References ==
	<references />		<references />

	{{MetaDescription\|Mossimo Giannulli, fashion designer and Lori Loughlin's husband, served 5 months for the Varsity Blues scandal. Learn about the $500,000 bribery case.}}		{{MetaDescription\|Mossimo Giannulli, fashion designer and Lori Loughlin's husband, served 5 months for the Varsity Blues scandal. Learn about the $500,000 bribery case.}}

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	\|description=Mossimo Giannulli, fashion designer and Lori Loughlin's husband, served 5 months for the Varsity Blues scandal. Learn about the $500,000 bribery case.		\|description=Mossimo Giannulli, fashion designer and Lori Loughlin's husband, served 5 months for the Varsity Blues scandal. Learn about the $500,000 bribery case.
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	[[Category:High-Profile Federal Offenders]]		[[Category:High-Profile Federal Offenders]]
	[[Category:Varsity Blues Scandal]]		[[Category:Varsity Blues Scandal]]

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	\| Mossimo Giannulli \|\| $500,000 \|\| 5 months \|\| Fought charges initially		\| Mossimo Giannulli \|\| $500,000 \|\| 5 months \|\| Fought charges initially
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Lori_Loughlin]] \|\| $500,000 \|\| 2 months \|\| Fought charges initially		\| [[Lori_Loughlin\|Lori Loughlin]] \|\| $500,000 \|\| 2 months \|\| Fought charges initially
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Felicity_Huffman]] \|\| $15,000 \|\| 14 days \|\| Pleaded guilty quickly		\| [[Felicity_Huffman\|Felicity Huffman]] \|\| $15,000 \|\| 14 days \|\| Pleaded guilty quickly
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Douglas_Hodge]] \|\| $850,000 \|\| 9 months \|\| Fought charges initially		\| [[Douglas_Hodge\|Douglas Hodge]] \|\| $850,000 \|\| 9 months \|\| Fought charges initially
	\|}		\|}

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	== See Also ==		== See Also ==
	* [[~~Lori_Loughlin~~]]		* [[Lori Loughlin]]
	* [[~~Rick_Singer~~]]		* [[Rick Singer]]
	* [[~~Varsity_Blues_Scandal~~]]		* [[Varsity Blues Scandal]]
	* [[~~Wire_Fraud~~]]		* [[Wire Fraud]]
	* [[~~Mail_Fraud~~]]		* [[Mail Fraud]]

	== Frequently Asked Questions ==		== Frequently Asked Questions ==

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{{Infobox Person
| name = Mossimo Giannulli
| image =
| birth_date = June 4, 1963
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California
| conviction = Conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud
| sentence = 5 months in federal prison, 2 years supervised release, $250,000 fine, 250 hours community service
| facility = USP Lompoc
| status = Released (April 2021)
}}

'''Massimo "Mossimo" Giannulli''' is an American fashion designer and entrepreneur who founded the Mossimo clothing brand in the 1980s. The brand became widely known through an exclusive licensing deal with Target stores. Giannulli is married to actress Lori Loughlin. In 2020, both pleaded guilty to fraud charges for their roles in the "Operation Varsity Blues" college admissions scandal, in which they paid $500,000 in bribes to have their two daughters admitted to the University of Southern California as fake athletic recruits. Giannulli was sentenced to five months in federal prison—a longer sentence than his wife received due to his more active role in the scheme.

== Early Life and Education ==

Mossimo Giannulli was born on June 4, 1963, in Los Angeles, California. He attended the University of Southern California (USC) but dropped out after his freshman year to pursue his fashion ambitions.

== Fashion Career ==

=== Founding Mossimo ===

In 1986, at age 23, Giannulli founded Mossimo, a fashion brand initially focused on men's casual wear and beachwear. He reportedly started the company with a $100,000 loan from his father.

The brand became known for its casual California aesthetic, featuring bright colors and bold designs. Mossimo quickly gained popularity, particularly among young consumers seeking affordable, stylish casual wear.

=== Growth and IPO ===

Mossimo experienced rapid growth in the 1990s:
* The brand expanded into various product categories
* Mossimo Inc. went public in 1996
* At its peak, the company had a market capitalization exceeding $500 million
* Giannulli became a young fashion industry success story

=== Decline and Target Deal ===

After the initial success, Mossimo faced challenges:
* The stock price declined significantly after the IPO peak
* The company struggled with overexpansion
* Financial difficulties mounted in the late 1990s

In 2000, Giannulli signed a revolutionary licensing deal with Target Corporation:
* Target would exclusively sell Mossimo-branded products
* The deal was reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars
* It transformed Mossimo from a struggling brand into a mass-market success

The Target partnership continued for many years, making Mossimo a household name and generating substantial wealth for Giannulli.

=== Personal Wealth ===

Through the Target deal and other ventures, Giannulli accumulated significant wealth. He and Lori Loughlin lived a lavish lifestyle, including:
* A $35 million mansion in Bel Air
* Other real estate holdings
* Luxury vehicles and travel

== Marriage and Family ==

=== Marriage to Lori Loughlin ===

Giannulli married actress Lori Loughlin in 1997. Loughlin was best known for her role as "Aunt Becky" on the television series ''Full House.''

The couple had two daughters:
* '''Isabella Rose Giannulli''' (born 1998)
* '''Olivia Jade Giannulli''' (born 1999) – who became a popular social media influencer with millions of followers

== The College Admissions Scandal ==

=== The Scheme ===

Beginning in 2016, Giannulli and Loughlin conspired with William "Rick" Singer to fraudulently secure their daughters' admission to the University of Southern California.

The scheme involved:
* Paying Singer $500,000 in bribes
* Having Singer create fake athletic profiles portraying the daughters as crew (rowing) recruits
* Staging photographs of the daughters on rowing machines (ergometers)
* Bribing USC's associate athletic director Donna Heinel to designate them as athletic recruits
* Neither daughter had any rowing experience

=== Giannulli's Active Role ===

Prosecutors emphasized that Giannulli took a more active role in the scheme than Loughlin:
* He communicated directly with Singer about the details
* He helped craft the fraudulent athletic profiles
* He sent emails coordinating the staged photographs
* He made the payments to Singer's fake charity

One email from Giannulli to Singer discussed the fake athletic profiles, saying of his daughter: "[She] has no interest in rowing whatsoever."

=== Daughter's Admission ===

Isabella was admitted to USC in 2017 and Olivia Jade in 2018. Both were admitted as purported athletic recruits to the women's crew team despite having no rowing background.

=== Olivia Jade's Fame ===

The scandal was particularly notable because Olivia Jade Giannulli had become a social media celebrity:
* She had millions of YouTube and Instagram followers
* She had sponsorship deals with major brands including Sephora and TRESemmé
* She had posted content about her USC experience
* After the scandal broke, she lost her sponsorships

== Arrest and Prosecution ==

=== March 2019 Arrest ===

On March 12, 2019, Giannulli and Loughlin were charged in connection with the Varsity Blues investigation. Unlike some parents who were arrested at their homes, Giannulli was arrested by FBI agents in Los Angeles.

=== Initial Not Guilty Plea ===

Unlike actress Felicity Huffman, who quickly pleaded guilty and received a 14-day sentence, Giannulli and Loughlin fought the charges for over a year:
* They pleaded not guilty
* They challenged the evidence against them
* They claimed they believed their payments were legitimate donations

=== Additional Charges ===

In April 2020, prosecutors added additional bribery charges against the couple, increasing their potential legal exposure. The new charges came after Giannulli and Loughlin rejected an initial plea offer.

=== Guilty Plea ===

On May 22, 2020, both Giannulli and Loughlin agreed to plead guilty as part of a plea agreement:
* Giannulli pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud
* The plea agreement specified a sentence of five months in prison

== Sentencing ==

=== August 2020 Sentencing ===

On August 21, 2020, U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton sentenced Giannulli to:
* 5 months in federal prison
* 2 years of supervised release
* $250,000 fine
* 250 hours of community service

Loughlin received a lighter sentence of 2 months, reflecting her less active role in the scheme.

=== Judge's Remarks ===

Judge Gorton delivered harsh criticism of Giannulli's conduct:

{{Quote|You were not stealing bread to feed your family. You have no excuse for your crime and that makes it all the more blameworthy.}}

The judge called the crime "motivated by hubris" and "defined by wanton arrogance and excessive pride."

== Incarceration ==

=== USP Lompoc ===

Giannulli reported to United States Penitentiary Lompoc, a federal prison facility in Santa Barbara County, California, on November 19, 2020, to begin his five-month sentence.

=== Prison Experience ===

Giannulli served his sentence during the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected prison conditions nationwide.

=== Release ===

Giannulli was released from USP Lompoc and transferred to a halfway house in Long Beach, California on April 2, 2021. He was released from home confinement in late April 2021, having completed his sentence.

== Post-Release ==

=== Community Service ===

After his release, Giannulli completed his 250 hours of court-ordered community service.

=== Personal Life ===

Giannulli and Loughlin remained married following their prison sentences. However, in 2025, it was reported that the couple had separated after nearly 28 years of marriage, though they have not officially divorced.

=== Daughters ===

Both daughters left USC following the scandal:
* Isabella has maintained a low profile
* Olivia Jade has rebuilt her public presence, appearing on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2021 and continuing her social media career

== Legacy ==

=== Varsity Blues Context ===

Giannulli and Loughlin's case was among the most prominent in the Varsity Blues scandal:
* Their $500,000 payment was among the largest bribes charged
* Loughlin's celebrity status brought intense media attention
* Their decision to fight the charges rather than cooperate drew scrutiny

=== Comparison to Other Defendants ===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Defendant !! Bribe Amount !! Sentence !! Cooperation
|-
| Mossimo Giannulli || $500,000 || 5 months || Fought charges initially
|-
| [[Lori_Loughlin]] || $500,000 || 2 months || Fought charges initially
|-
| [[Felicity_Huffman]] || $15,000 || 14 days || Pleaded guilty quickly
|-
| [[Douglas_Hodge]] || $850,000 || 9 months || Fought charges initially
|}

=== USC Reforms ===

Following the scandal, USC implemented reforms:
* Enhanced oversight of athletic recruiting
* Separation between admissions and athletic department
* Increased auditing of donations

== See Also ==
* [[Lori_Loughlin]]
* [[Rick_Singer]]
* [[Varsity_Blues_Scandal]]
* [[Wire_Fraud]]
* [[Mail_Fraud]]

== Frequently Asked Questions ==
{{FAQSection/Start}}
{{FAQ|question=Who is Mossimo Giannulli?|answer=Mossimo Giannulli is a fashion designer who founded the Mossimo clothing brand and is the husband of actress Lori Loughlin. He was sentenced to 5 months in prison for his role in the Operation Varsity Blues college admissions scandal.}}
{{FAQ|question=How long was Mossimo Giannulli in prison?|answer=Giannulli served 5 months in prison at USP Lompoc, from November 2020 to April 2021, followed by time in a halfway house.}}
{{FAQ|question=Why did Mossimo Giannulli get a longer sentence than Lori Loughlin?|answer=Prosecutors argued Giannulli took a more active role in the fraud scheme, directly communicating with Rick Singer and coordinating the fabricated athletic profiles. Loughlin received 2 months while Giannulli received 5 months.}}
{{FAQ|question=How much did Mossimo Giannulli pay in bribes?|answer=Giannulli and Loughlin paid $500,000 to Rick Singer's fake charity to have their two daughters admitted to USC as fake crew team recruits.}}
{{FAQ|question=Are Mossimo Giannulli and Lori Loughlin still married?|answer=As of 2025, reports indicate the couple has separated after nearly 28 years of marriage, though they have not officially divorced.}}
{{FAQSection/End}}

== References ==
<references />

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[[Category:High-Profile Federal Offenders]]
[[Category:Varsity Blues Scandal]]