‘I need money bro’: Postie thief stole cards for debts
A postman’s crippling gambling addiction drove him to steal bank cards from the mail in a six-figure fraud scheme.
Mauro Paul Coluzzi’s family members broke down in court as he was jailed until December 2027 for leading two criminal syndicates funded with pilfered plastic.
STOCK IMAGE - Mauro Paul Coluzzi worked as a postman. 9News
The disgraced postie, 57, reduced community confidence in the reliability of the postal service and prison time was a must, Judge Jillian Kiely found.
"(Cards) were stolen from the post which was a significant breach of trust ... to safely deliver these items to customers," she said in Sydney's Sutherland Local Court on Thursday.
"There were multiple victims, multiple financial institutions (targeted)."
An unblemished postal worker since 2007, Coluzzi began looking for new ways to fund a debilitating gambling addiction in early 2024, Judge Kiely said.
Working with two other men, the 57-year-old would steal bank cards out of the mail from his beat in Edgecliff, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, the agreed facts state.
"F***, I hope they all work, I need money bro," Coluzzi told one of his co-offenders.
Working with two other men, the 57-year-old would steal bank cards out of the mail from his beat in Edgecliff, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, the agreed facts state. Dominic Lorrimer
"I'm f***ed bro, I gotta pay my credit card."
Coluzzi is estimated to have gambled millions throughout his life and the excessive losses put repeated strain on his marriage, Judge Kiely said.
For 15 months, the postie and his cronies systematically stole dozens of cards from secure mail and obtained more than $100,000 in cash and fraudulent purchases.
Coluzzi personally pocketed $29,000 from the scheme and used the ill-gotten gains to buy gift cards, electronics, and even occasional groceries.
His barrister Troy Edwards SC argued a community sentence would be appropriate punishment for the 57-year-old.
But Judge Kiely said the offending was too serious for any sentence but jail."He was the instigator of the enterprise," the judge said.
"They could not have committed other offences without the cards he supplied."
As Coluzzi was led away by sheriff's officers from the court, a member of his family collapsed and had to be assisted from the court.
He will be eligible for parole in December 2027.
There are many ways to get help and information about gambling. You can visit the National Gambling Helpline or call on 1800 858 858.
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