Plant City woman admits to embezzling $290K from university, charity

FLORIDA — A Plant City woman has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, admitting to embezzling more than $290,000 from a university and a charitable organization where she held leadership positions.

Christina Lynn Morris, 46, reportedly used her roles as a Fiscal and Business Analyst for a public research university and President of a charitable organization to carry out the scheme over a two-year period.

According to court records, Ms Morris misused a university-issued credit card, additional cards assigned to other university employees, and the charity’s business bank accounts to conduct unauthorized purchases, including the bulk acquisition of gift cards.

Authorities allege that Morris exploited the charitable organization’s tax-exempt status to avoid sales tax on purchases made with embezzled funds. To cover her activities, she allegedly submitted falsified documents and withheld key information, deceiving both the university and the charitable organization.

The losses are reported to total $261,632.17 for the university and $31,569.87 for the charity.

Morris faces up to 20 years in federal prison and has agreed to forfeit $293,202 linked to her crimes, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation in cooperation with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlton C. Gammons is prosecuting the case.