On what basis did you form this opinion? Presumably more than just the say-so of the accused.
> This isn't how a legal system is supposed to work. You don't take a guilty plea because you run out of money.
But that's not how it works. You have a right to be represented by an attorney. That's why the state and federal governments maintain a system of talented-if-overworked public defenders.
...whose advice is usually "take the deal," because they're incredibly overworked and would rather get things over with, and they've long been jaded by the system.
It smells a lot like the prosecutors did what they always do with trial penalties - dump a deluge of charges and say "look, we'll throw all of the rest of them away except one or two if you take the plea deal." Fighting the charges in these situations often requires a reckless disregard for money and time, even in the case when you're completely innocent, neither of which can be recouped even upon acquittal.
This is such a common tactic that even John Oliver had to call out the bullshit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET_b78GSBUs