Actress Felicity Huffman expected to plead guilty Monday in admissions scandal

BOSTON — Eyes across the nation will be on the Moakley Federal Courthouse in South Boston Monday as Felicity Huffman accepts responsibility for her role in the college admissions scandal.

The Desperate Housewives Actress is expected to formally plead guilty. Because she is pleading guilty before a trial, Felicity Huffman is facing less than a year in prison.

Huffman has admitted to paying $15,000 to help improve her daughter's SAT score.

Once she formally pleads guilty in Boston federal court Monday, she’ll face the potential of four to 10 months in jail, a year of probation and a $20,000 dollar fine.

Related: First guilty plea in college admissions scandal could set precedent for case

Boston 25 legal analyst Peter Elikann expects there’s a good chance she'll get off without any prison time at all.

"If she is incarcerated, she's going to get what they call, 'a taste of jail,'" Elikann said.

Elikann calls Huffman’s decision to move quickly and plead guilty a wise move opposed to dragging it out. Had she chosen the longer route, Elikann believes it could've resulted in more charges and harsher punishment.

"The idea you get rid of it as quickly as possible and show you’re cooperative and move as quickly as possible is absolutely the smart move to make," he said.

A move not being made by fellow accused actress Lori Loughlin, who has refused any type of deal and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Loughlin and her husband are accused of paying $500,000 to get their daughters recruited to the USC crew team.

"Unless she has some great defense, I don’t understand the strategy of delaying," Elikann said of Loughlin.

And in the court of public opinion, Elikann says facing the consequences is key, considering the level of outrage connected to this scheme.

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"I think this is a cautionary tale," he said. "I think it's going to raise everyone's conscience about the unfairness that’s always been around about applying to college."

We expect to learn a sentencing date for Huffman after she faces a judge Monday and formally pleads guilty.

Loughlin and the other parents who are fighting the charges are due back in court next month.

Cox Media Group