In a plot twist that could rival any caper bestseller, a Memphis-based FedEx worker embarked on an adventurous yet ill-fated side hustle, trading his day job for a temporary career in ship-to-shore vacuuming of valuable packages. Antwone Tate found himself caught between delivering parcels and delivering a one-man shopping spree of unintended mischief, dabbling in the clandestine allure of diamonds, gold, and Ty Cobb baseball cards.

Tate’s journey to notoriety began quietly, clandestinely lifting packages amid the bustling environment of the FedEx Memphis Hub. The glittering contents of these parcels included an $8,500 diamond ring and almost $14,000 in gold bars—a treasure trove that would make even the most miserly dragons green with envy. But as most fairy tales of greed go, this one, too, was short-lived.

Despite his cunning, Tate’s plan wasn’t as seamless as FedEx’s usual operations. On May 27, vigilant watchmen from the company’s Loss Prevention department spotted a pattern fit for a Sherlock Holmes novel—a trail of vanishing packages. They managed to untangle Tate’s web of thievery, tracing the illustrious gems and bullion right back to a local pawn shop. It seems Tate believed by using his own legal identification at the shop, his newly acquired treasures would remain unquestioningly anonymous. Spoiler: that was not the case.

But this tale isn’t just about gold and diamonds. It ventures into the nostalgia of baseball’s golden era. Another mysterious vanishing act involved a shipment of vintage baseball cards, which might as well come with a sign saying “Collectors Only.” Missing were a 1915 Cracker Jack Chief Bender and a 1933 Goudey Sport Kings Ty Cobb. These weren’t your run-of-the-mill Topps bubblegum cards, but highly sought-after relics of American sports history, valued at around $6,800 in total.

Their unlikely resting ground? The digital flea market known as eBay, where Tate, under the pseudonym antta_57, found a new stage for his act. Like a magician who accidentally reveals his tricks, Tate’s digital fingerprints led the investigators from an online marketplace straight to his doorstep, turning “antta_57” into a symbol of his guilt. Perhaps a username like “iamguilty_100” would have been equally fitting.

As the story unfurled, the once-proud FedEx employee found himself transformed from a logistics handler to an unwitting cyber criminal. He now faces charges for theft of property, having played his hand a trick too far in his unauthorized downsizing of shipments.

FedEx, always eager to protect its own integrity and package integrity, responded swiftly with a corporate “sayonara” to Tate. In an official statement, the company emphasized that parcel pilfering isn’t part of their standard operating procedures. He had been given the unmistakable boot, a real-world reminder that every heist story has a consequence.

For those still waiting by the window, hopelessly refreshing their shipment tracking updates, Tate’s tale serves as a cautionary reminder: if your package inevitably goes MIA and your dreams of it materializing at your door are dashed, perhaps it lies tangled in the web of a digital auction. Yet, word to the wise: check the eBay seller names before you bid, especially if you’re feeling adventurous enough to seek out antiques with the telltale glow of traceable histories. If you stumble upon “antta_58,” you might just be diving into a sequel of the same caper.

fedex card thief