Former Morris Brown president pleads guilty to embezzlement

<p>The former president of Morris Brown College pleaded guilty Monday to embezzling federal funds that were intended to cover student tuition.</p><p>Delores Cross, 69, who was president of the college from November 1998 until February 2002, entered the plea in front of U.S. District Judge Julie Carnes at a morning hearing.</p><p>Monday's plea agreement dismisses 27 other counts Cross was facing in connection with the case. Had she gone to trial on the single count to which she pleaded guilty, Cross could have faced up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.</p><p>Instead, prosecutors are asking that Cross receive a recommended sentence of 10 to 16 months in prison. Her attorneys indicted in court that they would seek a lesser sentence of zero to six months because of an undisclosed medical condition.</p><p>The prosecution and defense agreed she will pay $11,000 in restitution.</p><p>Cross' trial had been expected to begin Monday.</p>