The postmaster of the Harbinger post office has resigned amid a federal embezzlement probe.

Debbie Homer, postmaster in Harbinger since August 2005, stepped down recently, a U.S. Postal Service spokeswoman said in a phone message. It was not immediately clear when Homer resigned.

Agapi Doulaveris, director of communications for the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Postal Service, confirmed Tuesday that Homer is being investigated for allegations of embezzlement from the Harbinger post office.

Doulaveris declined to comment on the amount of money investigators believe may have been embezzled or the timeframe of her office's probe. No charges have been filed in the case, she said.

"We do not prosecute. We investigate and provide background for the Postal Service to review," Doulaveris said. "It is then its decision whether to prosecute."

If charges are filed, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina would be in charge of the case, Doulaveris said.

Homer, who lives in Poplar Branch, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Homer's husband Patrick is employed as a sheriff's deputy in Currituck County. Currituck Sheriff Susan Johnson said her department is not involved in the case.

Homer is the second Currituck resident to be investigated for embezzlement in the past two years.

In November 2005, Howard Thomas "Tommy" Brothers, the former chief of the Lower Currituck Volunteer Fire Department was sentenced to 30 days in jail after pleading guilty to one felony count of embezzling $223,000 in public funds. Under the terms of his plea arrangement, he was ordered to repay Currituck the money.