ROANOKE -- A Charlottesville woman has pleaded guilty to federal charges that she stole money and gift cards from mail while working as a carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.

Kim Malone, 41, faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine after pleading guilty to mail theft, a felony. Sentencing hasn't been scheduled.

U.S. Attorney John Brownlee says the charge came after a customer on her route made a complaint about some mail that hadn't shown up. Authorities later discovered Malone had been keeping the mail.

-- The Associated Press