A woman who once was the Department of Educations top finance official has admitted she embezzled more than $500,000.As Randy L. Kimbrough pleaded guilty to embezzlement on Monday, her attorney and a prosecutor said they cannot agree on how much she stole and should pay back, and they will ask a federal judge to decide. The indictment left the total open-ended. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Taylor said he probably would push for restitution of $800,000.In her plea agreement, Kimbrough, 60, acknowledged having authority over public money that was distributed through regional cooperatives for services to school districts. On her orders, a cooperative based in Ashland issued checks for consultants who turned out to be fictitious. The checks went to Kimbrough, and she put them in her personal bank account. U.S. District Judge Joseph M. Hood ticked off those details Monday, then asked Kimbrough: Is that what happened? She said yes. Hood asked if the events could be described differently, and Kimbrough said no. Thats what happened, she said. Hood set her sentencing for July 31. Under federal sentencing guidelines, she may get 21/2 to 31/2 years in prison. Factors for Hood to consider include whether she accepted responsibility for the crime, abused a position of public trust and did more than minimal planning. State Auditor Ed Hatchett first reported the payments. Kimbrough resigned from the department on Jan. 6 when confronted with news of a state and federal investigation. Hatchett also found that the Ashland-based Kentucky Educational Development Cooperative paid $175,000 to Kimbroughs husband, Jesse Kimbrough, for allegedly undocumented consulting work. Jesse Kimbrough, a retired Warren County school principal, was indicted last month for mail fraud. His trial is scheduled to begin May 24.William E. Johnson, Randy Kimbroughs attorney, told reporters that the government wants payments to Jesse Kimbrough and another consultant, Joe Watkins, attributed to his client. He is fighting that, Johnson said. In court, Johnson told the judge he wanted to put on witnesses at Randy Kimbroughs sentencing hearing to testify about those payments. Watkins, who was assigned as a consultant to Metcalfe County schools, has not been charged. Under the plea agreement, eight money-laundering charges against Randy Kimbrough would be dismissed at her sentencing.