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Florida USPS Worker Accused of Stealing Mail-in Ballots

A Florida US Postal Service worker is accused of stealing a mail-in ballot, dozens of political flyers and 4 prepaid debit cards in a scheme that may have started nearly two years ago, federal authorities said Monday, the The New York Post reports.

Crystal Nicole Myrie, “embezzled letters, postal cards, and mail which came into her possession intended to be carried or delivered by her,” according to a criminal complaint.

Myrie appeared in federal court Monday on charges she stole the Miami-Dade County ballot, as well as 36 political flyers and 150 other pieces of mail, according to the Miami Herald.

The 31-year-old suspect admitted to two postal inspector agents Friday that she stole the debit cards to use at stores and has been “stealing mail sporadically for almost two years,” prosecutors said.

When investigators told Myrie she would have to turn in her postal identification, she told them the ID was in her car in the parking lot, she led the investigators to her car where in plain view through a rear window they found bags of stolen envelopes in the back seat, the Herald reported. One of those items was a mail-in ballot that was sent out for delivery on Oct. 6.

In the criminal complaint, the USPS Office of Inspector General said that “by stealing [the victim’s] vote-by-mail ballot, Myrie deprived [the victim] of her right to vote.”

It is unclear if Myrie purposely stole the ballot or if it was unknowingly part of a haul. She appeared in court Monday but has not entered a plea.

More than 2.5 million votes have already been cast by mail in the Sunshine State.

 

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About Catherine Smith

Catherine Smith is a newcomer to Washington D.C. She met and married an American journalist and moved to D.C. from the U.K. She graduated with a B.A. in Graphics, Media, and Communications and worked in design and retail in the U.K.

Photo: Getty Images