Mossimo Giannulli

Mossimo Giannulli (born Massimo Giannulli; June 4, 1963)[1] is an American fashion designer who founded Mossimo, a mid-range American clothing company, in 1986. Giannulli and his wife, actress Lori Loughlin, were charged and arrested in March 2019 in connection with the college admissions bribery scandal. Both agreed to plead guilty to the relevant charges and were sentenced to jail time and a fine in August 2020. Giannulli began serving his five-month prison sentence in November 2020.[2]

Mossimo Giannulli
Born
Massimo Giannulli

(1963-06-04) June 4, 1963
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationFashion designer
Known forMossimo clothing line
Spouse(s)Lori Loughlin (m. 1997)
Children3, including Olivia Jade

Early life

Giannulli was born Massimo Giannulli on June 4, 1963 in Los Angeles to parents of Italian descent, Gene, an architect, and Nancy Giannulli, a homemaker. He was raised in Encino, California.[3] In the first grade, he changed his first name to Mossimo at the suggestion of a teacher who insisted it was easier to pronounce.[3]

After graduating from high school, he studied business and architecture at the University of Southern California for three years before dropping out in 1987.[3]

Mossimo
Main article: Mossimo

Giannulli created Mossimo, a mid-range American clothing company in 1986 on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, California. Mossimo specializes in youth and teenage clothing such as shirts, jeans, jackets, socks, underwear, and accessories.

During his first year in business he grossed $1 million.[4] The following year he made $4 million.[5] Mossimo expanded the line in 1991 to include sweatshirts, knits, and sweaters.[6] By 1995, the collection included women's clothing and men's tailored suits. After eight years in business, Mossimo, Inc. had grown into a multimillion-dollar lifestyle sportswear and accessories company.

Mossimo went public with an initial public offering in 1996.[5]

After shares tumbled from $50 to $4 when the founder tried and failed to make the transition from streetwear/beachwear to high fashion,[5] he took the brand downscale, announcing on March 28, 2000, Mossimo, Inc. a major, multi-product licensing agreement with Target stores, for $27.8 million.[7][5]

Mossimo was acquired by Iconix Brand Group in 2006.[5]

College Bribery Scandal
Main article: 2019 college admissions bribery scandal

Giannulli and his wife Lori Loughlin were arrested on March 12, 2019 in connection with their alleged involvement in a nationwide college entrance exam cheating scandal, regarding their two daughters' (including Olivia Jade) admission to University of Southern California (USC). They were charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services fraud. They were released on $1 million bail each.[8][9] They were among 50 people charged.[10][11] The couple were also charged with money-laundering offenses in April 2019.[12][13]

The indictment against the couple alleged that they paid $500,000, disguised as a donation to the Key Worldwide Foundation, so that USC's admissions committee would think that their two daughters would be joining the school's women's rowing team if admitted. In fact neither young woman had ever trained in the sport and had no plans to do so.[14]

Initially denying the charges, Giannulli and his wife later pled guilty as part of a plea bargain.[15]

Prison sentence

Giannulli was sentenced to 5 months in prison and a $250,000 fine on August 21, 2020, while his wife was sentenced to 2 months in prison and a $150,000 fine.[16][17]

Giannulli and Loughlin both had until November 19, to report to prison.[18] On October 30, 2020, Giannuli refused to report to prison after Loughlin did so.[19] The same day, Loughlin had her right to have people, including Giannulli, visit her in prison suspended due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[20]

Giannulli entered the medium-security federal penitentiary in Lompoc, California on November 19, 2020 to serve his five-month sentence for his role in the college bribery scandal.[21] Prior to his entry he was seen with shaved head and tougher look.[22] In prison, he was placed in isolation due to COVID-19 in a medium security cell, rather than a minimum security cell that was supposed to be in.[23] He complained about this rough treatment to his family and his son Gianni posed on Instagram “mental and physical damage being done from such isolation and treatment is wrong.”[24]

References
  1. "Massimo Giannulli". California Birth Index. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  2. "Lori Loughlin's Husband Mossimo Giannulli Reports to Prison". KARE. November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  3. "Back in the Swim". People.com. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  4. "Mossimo Giannulli - Fashion Designer | Designers | The FMD". Fashion Model Directory. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  5. "How Mossimo Went from Being Head-to-Head with Stussy to Target's In-House Brand". The Hundreds. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  6. "How '90s Cool Brand Mossimo Went From Stussy Rival to Target Stores". Complex. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  7. Earnest, Leslie (29 March 2000). With Losses Mounting, Mossimo Turns to Target, Los Angeles Times.
  8. "Lori Loughlin has surrendered to federal authorities in Los Angeles". CNN. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  9. Thorne, Will (13 March 2019). "Lori Loughlin's Bail Set for $1 Million; Judge Sets Travel Conditions". Variety. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  10. Winter, Tom; Williams, Pete; Ainsley, Julia; Shichapiro, Rich (12 March 2019). "TV actresses among 40 people charged in college exam cheating plot". NBC News. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  11. Medina, Jennifer; Benner, Katie (12 March 2019). "Dozens Charged in College Admissions Bribery Scandal". New York Times. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  12. "Lori Loughlin indicted on money-laundering charge in college admissions scandal". 9 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  13. "Lori Loughlin, husband Mossimo Giannulli plead not guilty in college admissions scam". USA Today. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  14. "Lori Loughlin indicted by federal grand jury, charged with money laundering". USA Today. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  15. Cevallos, Danny (21 May 2020). "Why Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli held out on a guilty plea — until now". NBC News. NBC. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  16. Mark Morales. "Lori Loughlin sentenced to 2 months in prison in college admissions scam. Her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, got 5 months". CNN. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  17. Levitz, Jennifer (2020-08-21). "Lori Loughlin Sentenced to Two Months in College-Admissions Scandal". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  18. "Lori Loughlin's daughters Olivia Jade, Isabella 'rattled' by parents' sentencing". September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  19. Reed, Anika; Puente, Maria (October 30, 2020). "Lori Loughlin reports to California prison for 2-month sentence in college admissions case". USA Today. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  20. "Lori Loughlin Begins Serving 2 Month Prison Sentence For College Admissions Scam". WBZ 4. October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  21. "Lori Loughlin's husband, Mossimo Giannulli, reports to prison for admissions scandal sentence". NBC News. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  22. "Lori Loughlin's Husband Mossimo Gets Tough New Look as Prison Approaches". TMZ. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  23. Bryant, Kenzie. "Mossimo Giannulli's Son Speaks Out Against Prison Treatment". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  24. "Inside Mossimo Giannulli's 'Rough' Prison Stay After Lori Loughlin's Release". Us Weekly. 2020-12-30. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
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