The former postmaster of the Whiting, Kan., post office has been indicted on charges of embezzling government funds, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said Thursday.

Terri L. Morris, 49, Holton, Kan., is charged with two counts of making a false writing and one count of embezzling public funds. The indictment alleges the crimes took place at various times from Oct. 1, 2008, to Aug. 24, 2010, while Morris was Postmaster in the town of about 200 in Jackson County, Kan.

The indictment alleges that in 2010 investigators with the Postal Service made an unannounced visit to the Whiting Post Office and conducted an audit that showed a shortage of more than $7,000.

If convicted, Morris faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of making a false writing, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the embezzlement count. The U.S. Postal Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney is prosecuting.