PLANT CITY, Fla. – Christina Lynn Morris, 46, of Plant City, Florida, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after embezzling over $290,000 from a public research university and a charitable organization where she held positions of trust.
Morris worked as a Fiscal and Business Analyst for a university with multiple campuses in the Middle District of Florida. She also served as President of a charitable organization based in the same district. Between July 2021 and July 2023, she exploited her positions to carry out a scheme that involved unauthorized use of credit cards and misappropriation of funds.
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Details of the Fraud
Morris used her university credit card, credit cards issued to other university employees, and the charitable organization’s business bank accounts to make personal purchases. These purchases included repeated bulk purchases of gift cards, which she used to buy items while avoiding sales tax by exploiting the charity’s tax-exempt status.
To conceal her fraudulent activity, Morris falsified documents, made false statements to the university, and withheld crucial information from the charitable organization. Her actions resulted in a loss of $261,632.17 for the university and $31,569.87 for the charity.
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Morris has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. She has also agreed to forfeit $293,202, which represents the proceeds of her crime.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons is prosecuting the case.
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