The Galveston County Daily News

FRIENDSWOOD — A jury sentenced a former store clerk to eight years in prison after authorities accused her and five others in a scheme to obtain $5,000 in money orders, a prosecutor said Friday.

Amber Catrice Edmonson, 21, who worked at a Friendswood Valero, sought probation after giving birth in jail, but the jury sentenced her Thursday after she pleaded guilty Tuesday, Galveston County Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Ott said.

Authorities charged six people in the July 17, 2008, robbery. Two of the men are charged with robbery after authorities accused one of holding the clerk at gunpoint while the other printed five $1,000 money orders, Ott said.

“Only certain people have codes to use the money orders — employees, managers,” Ott said. “She never went inside. She and another guy conspired to get the aggravated robbery taken care of.”

Friendswood police recovered two of the money orders and the whereabouts of three are unknown, Ott said. None was cashed, she said.

Edmonson, who lived in La Marque at the time of the robbery, admitted her role after police interviewed her a second time, Ott said.

Edmonson, who had no previous criminal record, was arrested in October and sought probation from the 10th District Court jury after giving birth while awaiting trial, Ott said.

Leantwan King, 28, of Dickinson was sentenced to a year in jail after his May 27 guilty plea to a forgery charge, Ott said. King tried to cash one of the money orders but was unaware of the robbery, Ott said.

The aggravated robbery charges against Justin Graham, 21, Brian Green, 27, Andre White, 22, and Willie Williams, 37, have not been resolved, Ott said.