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N.D. (AP) – A North Dakota postmaster accused of collecting emergency salary advances he had authorized for his employees says he will plead guilty.

Edmund Sharp IV is charged in federal court with misappropriation of postal funds and false statements. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Prosecutors say the scheme took place between June 2013 and February 2014 while Sharp was the postmaster at Beulah. The plea agreement says it was an effort to meet the demands of higher costs of living in western North Dakota.

It’s not clear how much money was involved, but the charging document says it was more than $1,000.