A Chilton County woman is one of two United States Postal Service employees charged with stealing a total of more than $54,000 in money orders and other postal funds.

Sharon Harrison, 56, of Maplesville and Germaine Foster, 36, of Birmingham were indicted separately by a federal grand jury Dec. 27 on charges related to stealing U.S. Postal Service money orders and government property, according to a U.S. Department of Justice press release.

Harrison’s and Foster’s indictments were filed in U.S. District Court.

Harrison worked at the Shelby post office and was charged with stealing about $27,291 in money orders.

Foster worked at the Maylene post office and was charged with stealing about $27,650 in money orders and other postal funds.

If they are found guilty, Harrison and Foster could receive sentences of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for theft of Postal Service money orders, or up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for theft of government property.

The U.S. Postal Service and the Office of Inspector General investigated the cases, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank M. Salter is prosecuting.