Department of Justice officials said Friday Morehouse College in Atlanta has agreed to pay $1.2 million to end a federal investigation into what they describe as the misuse of funds intended to promote scientific study.

At issue are funds provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation to help Morehouse students enroll in scientific fields of study.

Prosecutors said a former Morehouse employee used some funds for purposes not permitted by the grants, but prosecutors didn't reveal further details.

NASA Inspector General Paul K. Martin said the settlement "addresses an egregious misuse of public funds."

U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said Morehouse cooperated with the investigation, and worked with the U.S. Attorney's Office, NASA and the NSF to resolve problems with the federal grant funding.

Tags: Morehouse College, federal grant money, U.S. Department of Justice, federal grants, Sally Quillian Yates