In what reads like a chapter torn from a heist novel, a Memphis FedEx employee named Antwone Tate stands accused of orchestrating a pilfery plot involving precious jewels, gleaming gold, and collectible sports heritage items. It seems Tate had an overly generous interpretation of his work perks, subscribing to the “finders keepers” philosophy in a rather tangible sense.
The story began to unravel when loss prevention officers at the bustling FedEx Hub in Memphis noticed some packages disappearing into thin air. May 27 marked the day their suspicion meter hit red alert and initiated an investigation into the vanishing acts.
Little did they know they’d end up on a treasure hunt, following the sparkly breadcrumb trail to a pawn shop. There, they discovered that the missing items—a glittering $8,500 diamond ring and gold bars worth nearly $14,000—had found a new home. And who was the fairy godfather making these dreams come true at the pawnshop? None other than Tate, leaving behind a glaringly traceable clue: his very own driver’s license. A strategic oversight for a man venturing into the criminal underworld, highlighting the perils of skipping Crime 101.
But like any infomercial worth its salt, there’s always more. The saga didn’t end with shiny valuables. Another package had wandered off course, filled with nostalgic charm instead of bling. Inside the lost parcel were baseball treasures—a 1915 Cracker Jack Chief Bender and a 1933 Goudey Sport Kings Ty Cobb card. These cardboard pieces of sports history are drool-worthy among collectors, boasting an estimated worth of $6,800. Not waiting for these to gather dust, Tate apparently had them popping up on eBay as well. Unfortunately for him, the seller name antta_57 became the virtual equivalent of shouting his misdemeanors from the rooftops.
Inevitably, the digital detectives linked the account back to Tate. The discovery might as well have been marked with neon lights, guiding the authorities straight to his door. Now, faced with charges of theft of property, this FedEx employee’s journey from delivering to disappearing packages has grinded to a halt.
As if taking cues from an Internet-age cautionary tale, FedEx responded by escalating him from employee to cautionary tale alumnus, reflecting the company’s zero-tolerance policy towards grand larceny. In an official tone that promises to collectively shake heads across cubicles, FedEx confirmed Tate’s tenure had come to an abrupt end, affirming the age-old wisdom that stealing doesn’t lead to career longevity.
While Tate’s future may be filled with more courtroom drama than courier duties, this story not only entertains with its brazen impudence but reminds us all of the vulnerabilities within systems believed to be foolproof. The packages we entrust to companies for safe delivery rely on the integrity of individuals, a notion that seems as fragile as the diamond ring now safe in pawn shop custody.
For those of us waiting on tenterhooks for our parcels to make it from tracking “out for delivery” to a hand-off without hitting the snag of an opportunist along the way, there’s a bit of calm in the chaos. Maybe it nudges us to inspect eBay with a more critical eye next time we see a too-good-to-be-true baseball card listing. Stay wary, fellow online shoppers, and perhaps steer clear of sellers with usernames like antta_58. Some lessons are simply learned without the need for firsthand experience.
In a world where gigabytes outpace gossip in spreading tales, Tate’s tale is a viral affirmation of how crime doesn’t pay—at least not better than an honest day’s work at FedEx.
