In a plot straight out of a crime caper, a Memphis FedEx worker, entrusted with the safe delivery of packages, decided he’d redefine “customer service” with a side gig in precious metal redistribution and the collector’s item lottery. Antwone Tate, an employee at the FedEx hub in Memphis, apparently thought a little career diversification couldn’t hurt. Specifically, he chose to enhance his income by appropriating a dazzling array of items from packages under his purview, thus igniting an investigation that reads more like the script of a quirky crime comedy than a cautionary corporate tale.
It all kicked off on May 27, when the Loss Prevention team, the unsung heroes of the package delivery world, noticed that some shipments had taken unexpected detours. Among the vanishing treasures was a diamond ring valued at a sparkling $8,500 and a cache of gold bars worth nearly $14,000—prizes that would make any aspiring pirate or pawn shop frequentist swoon.
But Tate’s audacity didn’t merely glitter in gold and diamonds. He was also tempted by the allure of baseball cards, those nostalgic cardboard artifacts that carry both childhood dreams and collector cash-value. Two notable casualties included a 1915 Cracker Jack Chief Bender card and a 1933 Goudey Sport Kings Ty Cobb card. These were no mere mantelpiece decorations, as together they boasted a price tag climbing high into the thousands—a fetching $6,800 to be precise.
The subsequent chase for the truth unfolded like a game of high-stakes hide and seek, with officials tracking the scent of missing jewels to none other than a local pawnbroker. There, as if by a magician’s conjure or a mere criminal’s misstep, the purloined treasures re-emerged, shining with all their original panache. Yet Tate’s sleight of hand faltered on one crucial detail—he chose to transact his newfound riches using his own driver’s license, as if dropping a digital breadcrumb trail for investigators to follow.
Meanwhile, his foray into vintage sports memorabilia was no less glaring. Listing the stolen baseball gems online, Tate embraced the intelligentsia of amateur hour by using an alias so transparent, it might have been more prudent to include his social security number. The eBay account “antta_57” stood as an obituary to anonymity, as investigators traced it quickly and directly back to him.
Faced with the proof of his three-fold caper, FedEx responded with swift corporate precision, suspending him from his duties with a formal reminder broadcast to all: electronic and physical prisons aside, theft is not remotely what they look for in their delivery staff. In an official statement echoing the old retail adage, they confirmed that Tate no longer represented the delivery giant, leaving open the possibility for him to consider other vocational avenues—perhaps in a field less reliant on customer relations and trust.
Tate now finds himself ensconced in a more literal kind of “holding” pattern, charged with theft of property for his ill-advised treasure trove trifecta. As the wheels of justice begin to turn, the tale serves as a sharp reminder that sometimes the most compelling dramas unfold not on the screen or in our imaginations, but in the everyday world of shipping logistics.
So, what moral accompanies this unfolding saga? Beyond the obvious instructions against thievery and the wise allocation of one’s vocational talents, there’s an implied wink and nod regarding digital discretion. For modern treasure seekers, aspiring entrepreneurs of ill-gotten gains, or anyone pondering a pivot from nine-to-five grind to criminal excitement, let this serve as a testament to the enduring importance of subtlety and legal employment.
In the wake of his arrest, the vanished artifacts begin their journey home to their rightful owners—rejoining loved jewelry and collector’s dreams alike. Meanwhile, those with packages scheduled for delivery can breathe a slight sigh of relief, albeit perhaps still checking their eBay feeds just to be sure.
Until the next saga writes itself, the sorting facilities at FedEx will continue humming, their operatives now wary and perhaps a tad more attentive to whose pockets might be bulging a shade too promisingly at the end of their shifts. In the interim, should your own parcel plans take a detour, you might just want to peek online for listings by the successor account, antta_58—just to be on the safe side.
