ST. LOUIS -- A former eastern Missouri postmaster pleaded guilty Wednesday to federally defrauding the U.S. Postal Service and an organization representing postmasters of thousands of dollars.

Tina Emery, 47, of St. Charles, admitted in U.S. District Court that she embezzled postal money orders valued at $3,742 in December 1998 while she was Hawk Point's postmaster. She also admitted in court papers that she defrauded the Postal Service and the National Association of Postmasters of the United States of up to $40,000.

Emery, accused in an 18-count June federal indictment, faces up to 15 years in prison, $500,000 in fines, and restitution when sentenced Nov. 30, U.S. Attorney Raymond Gruender said.

Emery served in management capacities at post offices in Hawk Point, Defiance, Bellflower, Middletown and New Madrid, Mo. From 1997 through 2000, the indictment alleged, she issued 232 postal money orders to be paid out for her benefit without paying for them.

The indictment also alleged that while serving as secretary/treasurer of the NAPUS' Missouri chapter from 1998 through October 2000, Emery defrauded the organization of $34,000. She since has admitted using the NAPUS credit card for personal expenditures and wrote checks on the NAPUS account.

Gruender has said Emery used the credit card to buy, among other things, items at an outlet mall and airline tickets for a trip to Las Vegas.

Emery has pleaded guilty to a mail-fraud count alleging she mailed a $600 check drawn on the NAPUS account to pay her personal phone bill and that of NAPUS.