MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A former U.S. Postal Service employee in Minnesota is accused of stealing cash and gift cards from the mail

A federal indictment charges 35-year-old Christina Steiner of Forest Lake with one count of theft of mail by a postal employee.

The U.S. Attorney's office says Steiner allegedly stole between $600 and $800 in cash and gift cards from the mail between last December and Sept. 18 of this year, while she was an employee of the Forest Lake Post Office. She was a substitute postal carrier and no longer works for the Postal Service.

The indictment was unsealed Wednesday after Steiner's initial court appearance.

Steiner's attorney, Ryan Pacyga (pah-SEE'-gah), says Steiner is cooperating with investigators.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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