'I feel violated:' Mail carrier charged with stealing credit cards

DELHI TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKRC) — A mail carrier is facing charges after she allegedly stole credit cards, including from at least one person on her route.

Delhi Township Police identify the mail carrier as 25-year-old Coniya Tyler.

Tyler is seen on Jo Ann Smith’s doorbell video doing her job of delivering the mail. That video was taken on April 14.

The next day, “I get an email from my credit card company and it said that there was a transaction denied at Walmart, didn't say which Walmart. And if I've made it push this button, if I didn't make it, push this button and call your credit card company,” Smith said.

Later that day, Smith says she checked her account and saw about $700 dollars worth of charges she says she never made.

Smith was also waiting on a replacement credit card in the mail but never received it.

“Just thought maybe it got mailed to the wrong address, returned to sender, whatever,” Smith said.

Smith filed a police report and called her bank to dispute the charges.

“Our investigator was able to determine that the card was used in the Norwood Ohio area, and was able to work with the retail shops and get some video, and when we saw the video we noticed that the person using the card was dressed in a post office uniform,” said Joseph Macaluso with Delhi Township Police.

Macaluso says Tyler used the credit card at a handful of stores.

“I feel violated because she stole from me,” Smith said. “You're supposed to be able to trust your mail carrier.”

On Thursday, Tyler was interviewed by authorities and who say she admitted to the theft.

More credit cards were found in Tyler's purse, which she admitted to stealing as well, but it's not clear if those victims were also on her routes. Detectives say they have the cardholders' names and will look into the matter further.

“When we interviewed her, we did discover about 13 or 14 other cards in her possession that she admittedly also taken sometime in her route,” Macaluso said.

“This is a very rare case,” Macaluso said. “I want the public to know that the vast majority of postal workers are honest, hardworking, individuals. Like any profession, there's always a bad seed in there and unfortunately, she appears to be one of those.”

Tyler has been charged with felony theft, and most likely will face more charges.

Tyler was allowed to leave jail without posting a bond. Her attorney told WKRC she is cooperating with law enforcement and it does not appear she has a criminal record.

Tyler’s case goes before a grand jury early next month.