Apr.24, 2010, 4:33 AM CST
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Federal prosecutors say a former Arkansas State University employee has pleaded guilty to mail fraud and money laundering charges.
Virginia DeMaine was indicted after an audit found nearly $740,000 missing over a seven-year period. She'd worked for the university's Child Development Associate Program.
DeMaine is free on bond after pleading guilty Friday. She faces up to 20 years in prison on the mail fraud charge and up to 10 years in prison on the money laundering charge. Prosecutors say more than $100,000 of that money was used to pay DeMaine's American Express bills.
Investigators say DeMaine put tuition payments in a personal checking account with preprinted deposit slips that indicated the account was for a childhood-services business.