In a tale that feels more heist movie than real life, a FedEx employee in Memphis seemingly took the motto “finders keepers” to heart, crafting a makeshift treasure hunt with items that belonged solely to someone else. This employee, Antwone Tate, chose a rather audacious method to supplement his income — turning his delivery gig into a personal gold mine, literally.
The story begins, as many tales of deception do, with suspicious disappearances. It was May 27 when the Loss Prevention team at the FedEx Memphis Hub noticed the vanishing act of some particularly valuable deliveries. The scent of something amiss was unmistakable, and an investigation soon revealed Tate had left quite the incriminating paper trail behind.
First, on the missing list, was an $8,500 diamond ring. But this was no small crime of opportunity. To this high-value item, Tate added a collection of gold bars totaling around $14,000, effectively doubling down on his gamble. And where do good clandestine hauls go to resurface? Why, the nearest pawn shop, it seems. There the items glimmered again, albeit briefly, until the owner noted they bore the somewhat incriminating hallmark of Tate’s own driver’s license. This oversight — or perhaps hubris — would come back to haunt him, as evidence continued piling up at his door.
However, Tate’s apparent adventurous streak didn’t just stop at precious metals and stones. His caper took a vintage turn with baseball cards. Among the collectibles missing in action were a 1915 Cracker Jack Chief Bender and a 1933 Goudey Sport Kings Ty Cobb. These are not just any cards; they are the holy grail for any serious card collector, with both quite comfortably securing spots on the wishlist of dreams. Sum these dream-come-true items, and their value taps out at a notable $6,800.
Here’s where modern technology caught up with our analog theft: Tate allegedly listed these relics of baseball history for sale on eBay under the account name antta_57 — a not-so-clever digital disguise that investigators quickly traced back to their puzzled FedEx man. The connection between jailed mystery and internet marketplace lacks subtlety, and Tate soon found himself staring at rather serious charges of theft of property.
With consequences inevitable, FedEx had no intention of flying blind. They swiftly cut Tate from their workforce, ensuring his tenure ended not with a ride into the sunset, but instead with a firm statement reinforcing that, unshockingly, part of his job did not include reliving Pirates of the Caribbean fantasies.
This heist, if you can call it that considering the lack of finesse, serves as a modern-day farce. It appears the allure of what lies in sealed packages was too great for Tate, who saw opportunity where there was none — and with predictable results. Meanwhile, other undelivered packages remain silently nestled in trucks and depots across the globe, prompting buyers everywhere to experience the occasional thud of disappointment.
While FedEx continues its deliveries with the hopeful optimism of a business that must believe good trumps ill, this tale serves as a cautionary flag. Take heed, dear consumer, lest your anticipated celebration with a tracking update transmute to an encounter with an endless void. Let also the story remind would-be schemers of the digital footprints we all leave scattered across the endless plains of the internet like breadcrumbs — breadcrumbs that lead not to escape, but capture.
In Tate’s case, his misdirected ambitions ensured his farewell to FedEx was not with a hesitant wave, but through the loud clang of a slamming cell door. The lesson? Next time opportunity knocks, let it be someone else’s package at the door. As for FedEx, they’ve sent Tate off with no illusions, leaving him to ponder if the bitter taste of irony is worth its weight in stolen gold bars.
