Morris Brown President Sentenced to Five Years Probation
Dr. Dolores Cross, the former Morris Brown College president convicted of embezzling millions of dollars in government money to cover the school’s debts, has been sentenced to five years probation and a year of
home confinement.
U.S. District Judge Julie E. Carnes says the sentence, which was agreed on by prosecutors and Cross’ attorneys, was based on her age and health and the fact that she did not benefit personally from the crime.
“The defendants have admitted their guilt, will be convicted felons, will serve sentences involving confinement and will pay restitution,” said David E. Nahmias, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, in a statement. “When the defendants arrived at Morris Brown, the college was already in serious financial condition. Thereafter, these defendants misappropriated … money in fairly complicated ways in what appears to have been a misguided and ultimately criminal attempt to keep Morris Brown afloat.” Cross, 70, was president of the 125-year-old college from November 1998 until February 2002.
She pleaded guilty in May 2006 to embezzling the funds. In exchange for the plea, federal prosecutors dismissed 27 other counts
against her.
Cross and Parvesh Singh, the school’s former financial aid and enrollment director, fraudulently obtained $3.4 million in student loans and Pell grants, in part to cover a $3.3 million credit debt and school expenses, prosecutors charged.
Singh, 64, also was sentenced to five years probation and 18 months
of home confinement.
