NEW YORK • Felicity Huffman is "ashamed of the pain I have caused my daughter" and will plead guilty in a college-admission scam.

According to prosecutors, the Desperate Housewives actress paid William Singer, a college consultant at the centre of the case, US$15,000 (S$20,300) to cheat on her older daughter's scholastic-achievement test.

"My daughter knew absolutely nothing about my actions and, in my misguided and profoundly wrong way, I have betrayed her," Huffman said in a statement.

A total of 33 parents were charged.

Prosecutors said Singer bribed test administrators to allow cheating on the college-entrance exams and bribed coaches to designate his clients' children as recruits to teams for which they were not qualified.

Actress Lori Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, who were also charged, have not yet indicated whether they will plead guilty.

The government said the couple conspired with Singer to pay US$500,000 in bribes to get their daughters admitted to the University of Southern California.

It was not clear what effect Huffman's admission of guilt would have on her career, reported The New York Times.

She has roles in several upcoming movies and television series.

Sentences may be affected in part by how much money each parent is alleged to have paid.

Huffman's payment of US$15,000 was among the smallest, according to court documents.

According to gossip portal TMZ, the authorities will recommend a jail sentence of up to 10 months for the actress.