'Chatty' Lori Loughlin Signs Autographs for Fans Ahead of Hearing in College Admissions Scandal

Lori Loughlin "was chatty and willing to sign autographs" and also "posed for photos" with fans, an onlooker tells PEOPLE

Lori Loughlin has landed in Boston ahead of her court date.

The Fuller House star arrived with her husband Mossimo Giannulli, via a private plane, at Logan International Airport on Tuesday afternoon, one day before her scheduled court appearance on Wednesday for her involvement in the college admissions scandal.

Despite the nature of her visit, some of those who chatted with Loughlin, 54, told PEOPLE that she appeared to be in good spirits.

Outside her hotel, Loughlin — who looked stylishly casual in grey pleated pants, white sunglasses, and a knee-length, camel-colored coat — signed 15 to 20 autographs for fans, many of whom were supporters of her role in the classic 1986 BMX bike racing film RAD. Giannulli, 55, sported jeans and a black leather jacket.

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According to an onlooker, Loughlin “was chatty and willing to sign autographs” and also “posed for photos” with fans.

Robert Schepis, who named his autograph and memorabilia company RAD after the film, described Loughlin as “super friendly.”

“She came over and she goes, ‘Guys, thanks for being such good fans. Oh my God, I love RAD. Thank you so much for waiting for me,’ ” Schepis told PEOPLE of Loughlin.

Schepis thanked Loughlin for coming to Boston despite her legal circumstances, but says she was very calm and replied, “No, it’s okay,” before signing fans’ photos.

Robert Schepis and Lori Loughlin.

When several people asked to take pictures with the actress, she gladly obliged. “She was about to go in, and my friend was like, ‘Can we get photos with you?’ and she was like, ‘Of course!’” Schepis added.

“If you didn’t know it was her (flying in), you wouldn’t have known it was her,” said Schepis. “She can walk down the street in Boston, and nobody would know it was her, I don’t think.”

Loughlin and the fashion designer are set to appear in court on Wednesday to face a felony charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.

“They can’t wait for the court hearing next week to be done with,” a source previously told PEOPLE. “It’s very hard for them to think about other things right now.”

“They are both feeling very stressed out,” the source added.

Mossimo Giannulli and Lori Loughlin. Donato Sardella/Getty Images for LACMA

Loughlin and Giannulli are among a list of 50 people who have been indicted as part of an alleged nationwide scheme, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.

“Dozens of individuals involved in a nationwide conspiracy that facilitated cheating on college entrance exams and the admission of students to elite universities as purported athletic recruits were arrested by federal agents in multiple states and charged in documents unsealed on March 12, 2019, in federal court in Boston,” the release said.

The indictment alleges the couple “agreed to pay bribes totaling $500,000 in exchange for having their two daughters designated as recruits to the USC crew team — despite the fact that they did not participate in crew — thereby facilitating their admission to USC.” (Neither Olivia Jade, 19, or Isabella, 20, are listed on the USC women’s rowing roster.)

Ollvia Jade, Lori Loughlin. Steve Granitz/WireImage

A source recently told PEOPLE that many of the couple’s friends have been distancing themselves from them.

“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.”