In today’s episode of “Career Choices to Avoid,” we present Antwone Tate, a former FedEx worker who tried to reinvent the old “side hustle” concept by trading in fidelity for felonies. From hand-delivering packages to his actual job to upgrading his duties to unofficial package redistribution, Tate’s journey epitomizes what not to do when you’re on the job.
Tate, stationed at the all-important Memphis Hub—FedEx’s nerve center—allegedly decided that his pay grade permitted a pick-your-own-package perk. What followed was a not-so-sophisticated strings of heists that have left both his employers and law enforcement shaking their heads. His alleged haul? Just simple office supplies like an $8,500 diamond ring, $14,000 in gold bars, and baseball cards that are more art pieces than sports memorabilia.
An internal investigation unfolded as the Loss Prevention team at FedEx flagged rather concerning package disappearances on May 27. The evidence trail was as bright as the studded jewelry itself, leading officials seamlessly to a pawn shop that held the missing $8,500 diamond ring and gold bars totaling nearly $14,000. The kicker in the trail of self-incrimination? Tate was cool as a cucumber using his very own driver’s license for the transactions, because why complicate things with a pseudonym when you’re a criminal mastermind?
But the glitter didn’t stop there. It appears that Tate had an eye for nostalgia too. The saga continued with a third shipment that decided not to reach its original destination. That very package, filled with the sort of baseball cards that make collectors hum Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi,” included the 1915 Cracker Jack Chief Bender and a 1933 Goudey Sport Kings Ty Cobb. Any sports memorabilia enthusiast would agree that these cardboard treasures are more akin to holy relics than mere cards. Total estimated value? A humble $6,800.
Not one to waste time in the local minors of petty crime, Tate decided to take his operation national—or at least digital—and listed these precious finds on eBay under the handle antta_57. It seems he was just one username change away from handing himself directly to law enforcement with a red bow on top. Because in today’s connected world, everything is traceable, even your username and user mistakes.
Naturally, the police were not hard-pressed in their detective work and swiftly traced the eBay account to our now-former FedEx impresario. He found himself duly charged with theft of property, and it probably goes without saying that FedEx wasted no time in giving him his marching papers.
The logistics giant issued a statement that stopped just short of spelling it out in block capitals with an exclamation point: Stealing isn’t in the job description. They summarily released him from his duties, closing the chapter where “employee benefit” and “criminal enterprise” were mistakenly swapped in someone’s job guide.
As the dust settles on this bizarre patchwork of poor judgment meets impulse-buy crimes, there’s perhaps a lesson to be learned here. Possibly several. Like the potent mix of personal integrity (or lack thereof) and unchecked access can lead to some misguided career detours.
Antwone Tate’s tale serves as a cautionary narrative for all seeking a career in logistics or honestly, any industry: When managing deliveries, remember to make sure they are arriving at the rightful owners, lest your career next delivers you into the hands of law enforcement.
Thus concludes the story of what can happen when someone mistakenly believes their employee ID doubles as a treasure hunt license. So, if you’re ever waiting on a package that seems to have vanished into thin air, maybe check sites like eBay—just make sure to steer clear of any seller whose username seems more like a confession than a pseudonym.