TOPEKA, KS—The former city clerk of Auburn, Kansas, was charged in federal court here Tuesday with embezzling from the city, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Alice Riley, 61, Topeka, Kansas, is charged with one count of interstate transportation of stolen funds. A criminal information alleges the embezzlement began in 2009 while Riley was city clerk of Auburn, Kansas, a town of 1,200 in Shawnee County. She issued duplicate payroll checks to herself and other unauthorized checks which she deposited into her personal accounts. She covered up the embezzlement by creating false entries in the city’s books and bank statements. She is alleged to have embezzled at least $186,000 from the city.

If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Hathaway is prosecuting.