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Oct. 19--MONTGOMERY -- A former Friendship Volunteer Fire Department deputy chief accused of embezzling federal grant money changed her plea to guilty Tuesday, ahead of her trial scheduled to begin next week.
As part of a plea agreement to receive probation instead of jail time, former Friendship Volunteer Fire Department deputy chief Angelia Curran, 45, changed her plea to guilty Tuesday in federal court in Montgomery.
Curran and her attorney declined to comment outside the courthouse Tuesday.
Curran originally pleaded not guilty to accusations she embezzled federal grant funds from Friendship Volunteer Fire Department accounts meant for safety programs, equipment and training.
Curran will be sentenced at a later date by a U.S. District judge who must decide whether or not to accept the plea deal instead of sentencing her.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Terry F. Moorer said Curran would probably be scheduled for sentencing within the next 60 days and a pre-sentencing report would be compiled.
For the felony, Curran could receive up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if the plea deal is not approved by the court.
Under the provisions of the plea deal, Curran would receive probation, pay $28,386.27 in restitution to FEMA and pay $5,000 by her sentencing date and monthly installments of $389.77 afterward.
Curran faced three counts for embezzling federal grant money, but, as part of the plea deal, two of the counts were dropped.
The remaining count says Curran was acting in her official capacity as an agent of the fire department when she intentionally misapplied grant funds worth more than $5,000 for personal use.
From 2005 to 2008, the volunteer fire department was awarded a series of grants -- applied for by Curran -- totaling almost $300,000, according to court documents.
Curran was indicted in July and remains free on bond.
