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Ex-postal worker admits stealing gift cards

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 3, 2009

TAMPA - Another former postal employee has admitted stealing gift cards out of the mail.

Alesia D. Smith, who worked at the Manasota Processing and Distribution Center in Manatee County, used a razor blade to open greeting cards and remove the gift cards, according to a plea agreement Smith signed.

In at least one instance, the intended recipient got a greeting card in an envelope that had been taped shut, with no gift card inside.

Smith was seen on store surveillance cameras using at least one of the gift cards. Her 18-year-old daughter was seen using others, the plea agreement states.

Smith was also captured on video by investigators, who observed her take a small razor blade and bend over a general purpose container "for a significant period of time," the agreement states.

Smith was a mail handler and worked for the postal service for 11 years.

She has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge of opening mail without authority, which carries a maximum of a year in prison.

At least nine postal personnel in the Bay area have pleaded guilty to similar charges since 2007; most have been sentenced to probation.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837.

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