Pa. woman makes plea to mail fraud in exchange student scandal; endangerment charges pending

Plea deal for some charges in Pa. exchange scandal

SCRANTON, Pa. — The woman accused of placing foreign exchange students in filthy homes in northeastern Pennsylvania has agreed to plead guilty to a federal mail fraud charge.

According to court documents filed Tuesday, Edna Burgette will plead guilty to collecting money using fraudulent paperwork related to the placement of five exchange students.

Burgette still faces child endangerment charges.

The 69-year-old Burgette placed exchange students in homes around Scranton as a coordinator for the Aspect Foundation. But authorities say some of the students were malnourished and living in deplorable conditions.

Defense attorney Christopher Osborne says the plea agreement is a good deal for his client.

Osborne says he may pursue a plea deal with prosecutors on the endangerment charges. That trial is scheduled to begin later this month.