In a tale straight out of a crime caper, an employee at the Memphis FedEx hub decided to embrace an unofficial “finders keepers” policy, transforming mundane package deliveries into his own treasure chest. Antwone Tate, the alleged mastermind, took the term “inside job” to heart, or more aptly, inside the delivery network, as he navigated his audacious acts of sticky-fingered larceny.
What began as a typical day at FedEx soon escalated into intrigue as packages with contents far from ordinary began mysteriously vanishing. On May 27, Loss Prevention at the Memphis Hub noticed a curious pattern: a succession of high-value items simply whisking away into the ether. The trail of conspicuous consumption soon unfurled, leading investigators to the unlikeliest of fences—a pawn shop. It appears Tate might have believed his schemes to be foolproof until he used his very own driver’s license during the pawn transactions—like installing a neon sign on his forehead that read, “It was me.”
The laundry list of items that magically reappeared at the local pawn emporium sounds more like the plot of an Indiana Jones sequel than the passenger manifest of a FedEx truck: notably, an $8,500 diamond ring and gold bars worth nearly $14,000. It’s almost as if Tate fancied himself a modern-day pirate of the land, albeit one lacking discretion.
But this was no mere double dip of dubious delights. The saga continued with Tate’s apparent propensity for all things nostalgic, steering the narrative toward America’s favorite pastime: baseball, well, its collectibles at least. The haunting absence of a particular package revealed a veritable museum of sporting history—featuring a 1915 Cracker Jack Chief Bender and a 1933 Goudey Sport Kings Ty Cobb, vintage baseball cards embodying the dreams of collectors far and wide. Valued at about $6,800, these were not your run-of-the-mill eBay listings. Yet, in what many would call a less-than-clever alias switcheroo, the baseball gems found themselves dotted online under the seller tag antta_57. Alas, the identity cloak was, predictably, threadbare.
Borrowing from the plot twists of a Fyre Festival documentary, the case against Tate came together quicker than an express delivery, culminating in charges of theft of property. FedEx, naturally, had some damage control to execute—not just in logistics but in personnel, promptly severing ties with their erstwhile employee. The company made clear, through a statement, that the conduct in question does not align with available career growth opportunities within the firm.
So, what does this grand scheme tell us about our parcels, diligently tracked and yet occasionally MIA? Perhaps the moral of the story lies in the need for sophisticated systems not just in logistics but in employee screening. Or maybe it’s a reminder that for every Antwone Tate out there, there are countless courier champions ensuring the world’s packages make it from Point A to happy recipient at Point B.
For customers fretting over packages straying into the abyss, taking a peek at online marketplaces might shed light on a parcel’s potential second life—before it’s officially unwrapped. Just beware of listings by any account resembling antta_58, unless you’re keen on acquiring an intimate souvenir from one of FedEx’s most infamous memos.