Two Dayton postal workers ripped open Priority Mail packages they suspected contained drugs and kept the marijuana and methamphetamine they found, according to federal court documents.

Desmen A. Pauley and Tyler O. Oder, who both worked at the U.S. Postal Service’s distribution center at 1111 E. Fifth St., have agreed to bills of information alleging possession with intent to distribute drugs.

Pauley told investigators he and Oder had been stealing narcotics for about 18 months, while Oder said he was working alone, according to a complaint filed in Dayton’s U.S. District Court.

Oder is scheduled for an arraignment and plea hearing Friday on one count of possessing with intent to distribute marijuana. Oder’s bill of information was filed Feb. 7. Pauley’s bill of information for one count of possessing with intent to distribute meth was filed April 8.

The investigation began in December when postal inspectors were informed two employees were suspected of stealing mail when Priority Mail packages were found in an area under the workroom floor of the Dayton Processing and Distribution Center, according to the complaint.

On Jan. 9, inspectors were notified that more Priority Mail packages mailed from California were found “ripped open” on the workroom floor.

On Jan. 18, postal special agents, inspectors from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and RANGE Task Force agents set up surveillance on Pauley and Oder as they worked.

The complaint said both left the workroom floor several times during their 9:30 p.m.-to-6 a.m. shift. Oder took a full backpack to his vehicle. After both employees clocked out, they sat in Oder’s car before both drove off. Read more at WHIO