MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A U.S. Postal Service mail carrier and her boyfriend were arrested Thursday on allegations that they stole numerous credit cards and used them in various transactions.
According to an arrest report, a USPS inspector was notified about several complaints from Miami Beach residents about mail that was never received. One of the victims called the inspector April 30 and said a letter from American Express, which contained a credit card, was never delivered.
"I had expected a new credit card from American Express," Spring Lite told Local 10 News. "It had been mailed out on a Monday and on Wednesday, I called to let them know I still didn't have it."
Police said American Express was notified and confirmed that the credit card had been used at Walmart to make a purchase of $430. 78.
Further investigation revealed that the person who made the purchase was James Macklin, 29, who was identified by a Post Office manager as the boyfriend of one of her mail carriers, Nasheria James, 28, the report said.
Detectives said James identified her boyfriend in a surveillance image that showed him making the transaction at Walmart. They said she confessed to stealing numerous envelopes over a five-month period that contained credit cards, and estimated that she had done it about 10 times.
James told detectives that she was not sure what her boyfriend did with the credit cards, police said.
After seeing James' mugshot, Lite said she immediately recognized her.
"Wow! Yes, this is the letter carrier who had just started this week at my house. She was brand new," Lite said.
Macklin was arrested while leaving a home in Miami.
Police said a loaded Smith and Wesson .40-caliber handgun was found in Macklin's glove compartment, and Macklin acknowledged that it was his.
Detectives said Macklin claimed that he was unsure whether he was the person seen on the surveillance video at Walmart. When asked if he had ever gone to that Walmart, Macklin requested a lawyer, police said.
Macklin was arrested on charges of third-degree grand theft and fraudulent use and possession of personal identification.
James was arrested on charges of organized scheme to defraud, unlawful possession of a stolen credit or debit card and unlawful possession of five or more personal identifications.
According to Lite, more than $1,600 was racked up on her American Express credit card. Lite said the purchases ranged from iPads to groceries.
Jeff Krafels, assistant special agent in charge from the USPS Office of Inspector General, said James, who is no longer employed with USPS, had been an employee since May 2014.
According to Krafels, James was a city carrier assistant at the time of her arrest and delivered on several routes since she was not a career employee.
James was last working out of the Normandy Beach post office.
It's unclear whether James will face federal charges.
Krafels said his office is compiling a list of victims who will be sent a notification letter about the arrests.