Ex-Employee Stole Drugs From Tredyffrin Pharmacy: Police

TREDYFFRIN, PA — A former employee of the Rite Aid pharmacy in Chesterbrook is awaiting trial in the Chester County Justice Center on charges of stealing and distributing Alprazolam, a generic form of the sedative, Xanax, in December 2022.

Cyniah Thomas, 21, of Yeadon, Delaware County, was arrested on Jan. 3 by Tredyffrin Township police on charges of stealing and distributing (99) 1-milligram and (77) 2-milligram Alprazolam pills, while working at the pharmacy.

Police said the street value of the medication is $2,530.

Thomas has been terminated from her job at the pharmacy, which included filling prescriptions.

According to police arrest documents:

• On Dec. 30, Russ Missmer, Rite Aid's regional asset protection leader, informed police that he confronted Thomas about missing medication and Thomas admitted taking the pills.
• Later that day, Thomas admitted to the police that she took the Alprazolam pills to sell them on the street to make money, not to use herself.
• She told police she would take the pills and hide them in her personal belongings when she was alone in the pharmacy.
• Thomas said solicited her female cousin, who she referred to as “Nee-Nee,” who sold the drugs on the streets of Philadelphia near Fairhill and Chew avenues, and then gave her $300.

Thomas is free on $25,000 bail awaiting formal arraignment, scheduled on Feb. 23.