HOUSTON – A Baytown post office supervisor is facing felony charges after investigators say she stole a rare basketball card from an outgoing package and re-listed it for sale on eBay — where the original buyer found it himself.
Rodolfo Silvas paid $3,617 for an autographed Cooper Flagg rookie card on eBay in late April and after not being home to sign for it, his girlfriend went to pick it up at the Baytown Post Office in May.
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“The case that came in it was taken out, it was gone, there was nothing,” Silvas told KPRC 2 News. “This card could be worth a lot in the future.”
He noticed a small incision in the box. Silvas reported the theft to Baytown police, the post office, and eBay, hoping an investigation would surface the card.
Victim finds stolen card back on eBay
But by early June, Silvas found the card relisted for sale online — and this time, he reported it to the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General.
An investigator working undercover connected with the eBay profile “sidekick2019,” according to a search warrant affidavit, and arranged to buy the card for $700 in a Baytown parking lot meeting on June 5.
Police recovered the stolen card at that meeting and arrested 44-year-old Kristy Smillie.
Smillie had worked at the Baytown Post Office for more than eight years, according to court records, where she served as a supervisor.
“Man, I can’t believe that,” Silvas said when he found out from KPRC 2 News the suspect worked for the postal service. Off-camera, his girlfriend gasped to learn the news.
When Silvas looked through her eBay listings, he said it appeared in some of the photos she may have been wearing a postal service uniform, and some of the other photos appeared to be of items that may have been stolen from the mail, like jewelry, coins, and cards.
More discoveries inside suspect’s car
At the time of the sting, investigators wrote in a search warrant affidavit that Smillie’s car smelled like perfume and marijuana.
When they searched the car, they found approximately 30 grams of marijuana, 2 grams of powder THC, and more than 44 grams of Adderall-type pills in prescription bottles with the person’s name peeled off, according to court records.
Smillie was also charged with possession of a controlled substance.
In her trunk, investigators also found a U.S. Mail Ground Advantage parcel addressed to someone else, and noted in the affidavit additional charges are possible as that package gets investigated.
Suspect’s interview
During Smille’s interview with investigators, she initially claimed she got the basketball card from a colleague but wouldn’t tell them the person’s name.
Eventually, Smillie allegedly named a colleague, and claimed that person found the card in a dumpster behind the post office and gave it to her.
“Smillie admitted that if her story was to be believed, it would still be considered theft that she took an item that did not belong to her,” investigators wrote in the affidavit.
Investigators search for more victims
Investigators photographed Smillie’s desk, noting it appeared to be where she took the photo of the card that was later listed on eBay. They are now searching her phone for evidence linking her to additional mail theft victims.
“I tried to tell him, I believe this had been going on for a long time,” Silvas said.
Smillie has been released from jail on personal bond. The U.S. Postal Service confirmed she is currently in a non-duty status.
Silvas still does not have the rookie card and doesn’t know when he may get it as it remains held as evidence. He says the experience has shaken his trust in the mail system.
“You expect for them to do their job and be trustworthy and, like anyone, just do your job and not steal,” he said.
KPRC 2’s Bryce Newberry will have the full report tonight on KPRC 2 News at 10.
How to report stolen or tampered mail
The U.S. Postal Service encourages anyone with stolen or tampered mail to file a report.
The USPS shared this statement:
“The U.S. Postal Service takes the security and the sanctity of the mail very seriously. Regarding this specific instance, local management at the Baytown Post Office has taken immediate action to address the matter. While we do not publicly discuss personnel matters, we can confirm the individual is currently in a non-duty status. Customers have options if they suspect mail theft or tampering of any kind, including contacting the USPS Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 or online at www.USPIS.gov/report or the USPS Office of Inspector General at Home | Office of Inspector General OIG," a spokesperson said.