A shipment of 34 gold coins worth $240,939.40 was stolen from a FedEx distribution center in Jacksonville, then traced through pawn shop sales, police said.
Jennifer Meria Owens, 53, was arrested July 8 after investigators linked her to the sale of the stolen coins, according to News4JAX.
Her husband, Victor Lagrane Owens Sr., 50, had already been arrested in June and charged in connection with the theft. Investigators said he obtained the coins through work tied to a delivery company and later gave them to his wife to sell.
Jennifer Owens was booked on a dealing-in-stolen-property charge, while Victor Owens was charged with grand theft of more than $100,000, dealing in stolen property, and false verification of ownership on a pawnbroker transaction form. The charges are accusations and have not been proven in court.
The Coins Were Taken From a FedEx Facility
News4JAX reported that the coins were stolen March 18 from the FedEx distribution center on Commonwealth Avenue. With 34 coins valued at $240,939.40, the average value of each coin was more than $7,000.
In the earlier case against Victor Owens, police said the name “V. Owens” appeared on a FedEx receipt form connected to the shipment. The arrest report said the ID number on the form did not match any Florida driver’s license record.
Pawn Records Led Investigators to Jennifer Owens
Jennifer Owens was identified through latent-print analysis of a pawn transaction form, according to the arrest report cited by News4JAX. Investigators conducted surveillance July 8 and stopped her as she left an apartment on Collins Road.
JSO said she admitted selling the coins but told investigators she did not know they were stolen. She said Victor Owens, identified in the report as her husband and co-defendant, had given her the coins to sell.
The Delivery Paperwork Became Part of the Case
According to News4JAX, JSO said Victor Owens got the coins while working for Logistive Delivery LLC and picking up boxes from the FedEx warehouse.
He told police he thought the person who was supposed to receive the package was dead, the report said. Investigators said that person was alive and well in Clay County.
Jennifer Owens later told investigators she believed the company named on the paperwork, Logistive Delivery LLC, was part of a scam, according to News4JAX.
The Resale Trail Mattered
Pawn shop records became part of the case because stolen high-value property can become traceable when someone tries to turn it into cash.
For coin owners, collectors, dealers, and shippers, proof of ownership can matter as much as tracking. Purchase receipts, photographs, appraisals, coin descriptions, grading certificates, packaging records, shipping documents, and pawn records can help connect a recovered item to its rightful owner.
A Tracking Number Is Not Enough for Precious Metals
High-value shipments need records beyond a tracking screen. Consumers should keep the invoice, exact delivery address, recipient name, declared value, carrier service selected, signature requirement, and any emails showing the shipment terms.
FedEx says declared-value shipments of $500 or more have Direct Signature Required applied. Shippers of valuable coins, bullion, jewelry, or collectibles should review declared-value limits, signature rules, packaging requirements, and claim procedures before sending the item.
Coin Buyers Also Need Independent Records
The record trail does not stop after delivery. Buyers should be able to show when the coins were purchased, who sold them, what price was paid, how they were shipped, and what identifying details came with them.
The Federal Trade Commission has warned consumers buying collectible coins to understand melt value, compare market information, and be cautious about inflated values or poor documentation.
That same habit helps if ownership is disputed later. A clear receipt, grading certificate, appraisal, seller information, payment record, and shipping record can help a buyer or seller prove what was purchased and where it was supposed to go.
Anyone shipping or buying high-value coins should save the purchase invoice, shipment label, tracking history, declared-value information, signature record, delivery photo, packaging images, grading certificate, appraisal, serial or certification numbers, and all messages with the buyer, seller, shipper, or carrier.
If a shipment disappears, the sender or recipient should contact the carrier immediately, open a claim, notify the seller or buyer in writing, preserve every tracking update, and report suspected theft to local law enforcement. If the item may have been pawned or resold, detailed ownership records can help investigators and pawn units identify it.