NORRISTOWN, Pa.—A former travel agent from suburban Philadelphia admits that she ripped off more than three dozen people who booked an African safari with her company.

Frances Balshan pleaded guilty Friday in Montgomery County Court to charges of deceptive business practices and the theft of nearly $170,000.

Prosecutors say the St. Louis Zoo contracted with Balshan for a group trip to Kenya and Tanzania. Authorities say the 67-year-old Abington resident used most of the participants' money for personal expenses.

When she was charged in 2008, Balshan said the allegations resulted from a misunderstanding.

The safari went on as planned, thanks to funding from a nonprofit that supports the zoo.

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Information from: KYW-AM, http://www.kyw1060.com