Plant City woman pleads guilty to embezzling $290,000 from university, charity

PLANT CITY, Fla. (WFLA) — An employee at a public research university with multiple campuses in Florida has been convicted of embezzling more than $290,000 from the institution and a charity.

Christina Lynn Morris, 46, of Plant City, agreed to forfeit $293,202 after pleading guilty to wire fraud and could face up to 20 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

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Court documents show Morris worked as a fiscal and business analyst at an unnamed university. She also served as president of an unnamed charity in Florida.

Between July 2021 and July 2023, Morris reportedly used her university credit card, as well as credit cards issued to other university employees, to make non-commercial purchases.

She also used the charity’s bank accounts to make unauthorized transactions, often including bulk purchases of gift cards.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Morris used the association’s tax-exempt status to avoid paying sales tax on merchandise she purchased with the gift cards.

Officials said she tried to cover up her crimes by submitting falsified documents, providing false university credentials and withholding essential information from the association.

Morris’ actions are estimated to have cost the university $261,632 and the charity $31,569.

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