Lori Loughlin Dropped By Hallmark Channel Amid College Admissions Scandal

Lori Loughlin has been dropped from all Hallmark Channel productions in the wake of the college admissions scandal.

In a statement obtained by PEOPLE on Thursday, the network said, “We are saddened by the recent news surrounding the college admissions allegations.”

“We are no longer working with Lori Loughlin and have stopped development of all productions that air on the Crown Media Family Network channels involving Lori Loughlin including Garage Sale Mysteries, an independent third party production,” the statement continued.

Along with stopping any current projects, the network will no longer air past content featuring Loughlin.

The actress has become a staple on the channel over the years, starring in numerous movies, TV shows and specials. She is currently starring as a series regular on Hallmark’s drama When Calls the Heart, which is currently in its sixth season. A representative for Hallmark told PEOPLE that the series will not air on Sunday, March 17.

“We are evaluating all creative options related to When Calls the Heart series,” the rep said.

Loughlin, 54, is among dozens charged in an alleged college admissions scam involving elite colleges and universities including Yale, Georgetown, the University of Southern California and Stanford. Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, allegedly paid $500,000 to make it appear that their daughter had been a rower, the indictment states. (Olivia Jade is not currently listed on the USC women’s rowing roster. It’s unclear if she was aware of the alleged scheme, and she was not charged.)

Both Loughlin and Giannulli were both arrested this week — she on Wednesday and he on Tuesday — on a felony charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. Giannulli appeared in federal court on Tuesday and was released after posting a $1 million bond. Loughlin made her first appearance in federal court on Wednesday in Los Angeles where a judge set her bond at $1 million, according to the Associated Press, the Orange County Register and the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

A source told PEOPLE that some of the pair’s friends have been distancing themselves from the couple in light of the news.

“Lori and Mossimo are finding out quickly who their real friends are,” the insider said. “It’s not like they are the victims of a crime. They are the crime.”

“Many of their friends don’t want to be associated with them right now,” the source added. “Their friends are shocked at the allegations.”

A second source told PEOPLE that in the wake of the scandal, those who know Loughlin are also saddened to learn of her alleged involvement in the crime.

“Lori has always been a no nonsense, seemingly together woman who knows what she wants and goes for it with zest. She exudes both confidence and folksy charm at the same time,” the second source said.

“This issue is shocking and greatly saddens many people,” said the second source. “I’ve heard she is devastated, and the whole family wants to hide from the world.”

The pair accounts for two of 50 people indicted as part of the alleged nationwide scheme, which broke on Tuesday when federal court records were unsealed in Boston. Other notable names include Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman and author Jane Buckingham.

According to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts, the widespread effort was made by wealthy families to get their children into top colleges by falsifying SAT scores, lying about their athletic skills, and more. It’s unclear if the children were aware of any of these alleged crimes.

Some named in the court documents allegedly paid bribes of up to $6 million to get their children into elite colleges, including Yale, Stanford, Georgetown, the University of Southern California, UCLA, the University of San Diego, University of Texas and Wake Forest, according to federal prosecutors.