A Baytown post office supervisor is accused of swiping a high-end Cooper Flagg rookie card from the mail and trying to flip it online for a quick payday, turning a collector’s prized package into what investigators say was her side hustle.
Investigators say the autographed rookie card, which a buyer had just paid about $3,600 for, vanished somewhere between seller and doorstep, only to pop back up for sale on the internet. Authorities say they recovered it during an undercover buy in early June.
Rodolfo Silvas told investigators he paid $3,617 for the autographed card in late April. When the box finally arrived, he noticed a small incision in the packaging and no card inside. So when he spotted what appeared to be the very same Flagg card listed online, he contacted law enforcement.
An investigator posing as a buyer reached out to the eBay profile “sidekick2019” and arranged to meet for a $700 sale in a Baytown parking lot on June 5. That is where police say they recovered the card and arrested 44-year-old postal supervisor Kristy Smillie, according to Click2Houston.
What investigators say they found
After the arrest, investigators say a search of Smillie’s car turned up more than just the missing mail. According to authorities, they found roughly 30 grams of marijuana, about 2 grams of powdered THC and more than 44 grams of Adderall-type pills in prescription bottles with the labels peeled off. They also report finding a U.S. Mail Ground Advantage parcel in her trunk that was addressed to someone else.
Authorities say they are now reviewing her phone for evidence that could connect her to additional mail-theft victims. The affidavit states that “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.” She was released on a personal bond, and the U.S. Postal Service confirmed she is currently in a non-duty status, according to Click2Houston.
Why the Cooper Flagg card mattered
For collectors, this was not just any piece of cardboard. Cooper Flagg rookie cards have been among the market’s hottest rookies this season, and signed or graded versions routinely sell for thousands of dollars.
Recent sale records and certification lookups show steady four-figure activity for Flagg rookies, which helps explain why a missing autographed card set off alarms for both the buyer and investigators. Sites like PSA and TheClector track authentication data and recent market activity for similar Flagg issues.
How to report suspected mail theft
If a package shows up cut open, tampered with or missing key contents, the Postal Inspection Service wants to hear about it. The agency provides an online mail-theft reporting form along with a tip line at 1-877-876-2455, according to the Postal Inspection Service.
When reporting, having tracking numbers ready, along with photos of the packaging and any related auction or resale listings, can make it much easier for investigators to trace where things went wrong.
Legal next steps
Under federal law, stealing mail or receiving stolen mail is not just bad form, it is a crime. Title 18 of the U.S. Code makes theft or possession of stolen mail a federal offense in section 1708, while section 1709 specifically covers theft by postal employees and allows for penalties that can include fines and up to five years in prison.
Cases like this are typically handled by postal inspectors or agents from the Office of Inspector General, who can refer them to federal prosecutors if the evidence holds up. The federal code and investigative case summaries show that similar mail-theft investigations often end in arrests and formal referrals, as outlined in 18 U.S.C. §§ 1708–1709 and recent USPS OIG case highlights.
