In a bold and daring move reminiscent of a Hollywood heist movie, two men in Ohio were recently sentenced in connection with the theft of rare baseball cards worth a staggering $2.1 million from a Strongsville hotel earlier this year. The repercussions of this audacious crime have left a trail of consequences for all involved.
Jacob R. Paxton, a 28-year-old resident of Brunswick who worked at the hotel where the theft took place, found himself at the center of the elaborate scheme. In October, he pleaded guilty to aggravated theft and was subsequently handed a sentence of four to six years in prison, followed by two to five years of community control. Additionally, Paxton was ordered to pay over $89,000 in restitution as part of his punishment. Interestingly, a second charge of tampering with evidence was dropped as part of his plea agreement.
The elaborate heist unfolded when a shipment of valuable collectible baseball cards, dispatched by vintage sports card dealer Memory Lane Inc., arrived at the Best Western Plus hotel along Royalton Road on April 17. Originally meant for a sports card expo at the nearby Brunswick Auto Mart Arena, these prized possessions fell into the clutches of opportunistic thieves. Prosecutors alleged that Paxton, an employee of the hotel, seized the moment and pilfered the cards from the delivered packages.
In a courtroom confession, Paxton expressed remorse for his actions, stating, “I just want to say that I’m very sorry to the victim, and this doesn’t show who I am.” He continued, “I have a 2-year-old… it’s just me and him. I’ve been doing my very best. I wasn’t honest with the detectives at first that I had [the cards]. I should have been. I was just scared.”
Following the theft, Paxton passed on the stolen cards to Jason Bowling, a 51-year-old Cleveland resident who became unwittingly embroiled in the criminal act. Bowling’s attorney, Jaye Schlachet, defended his client by asserting that Bowling believed the cards had been discarded in a dumpster and was unaware of their stolen origins.
Authorities obtained a search warrant for Bowling’s residence on May 23, leading to the recovery of all but two of the purloined cards. Investigators pieced together the puzzle using a combination of phone records, surveillance footage, GPS data, and witness testimonies to establish the involvement of both men in the heist.
Bowling eventually pleaded guilty to charges of receiving stolen property and received a sentence of one year of community control.
The repercussions of this crime extended beyond the legal penalties faced by the perpetrators. The impact on Memory Lane Inc., the victim of the theft, was profound. The company suffered substantial financial losses, including the forfeiture of a $2 million loan and $100,000 in interest, alongside enduring damage to its reputation in the aftermath of the incident.
Despite the recovery efforts, two of the stolen cards remain missing, adding a layer of mystery and intrigue to the already sensational tale. The missing cards are a 1909 T204 Ramly Walter Johnson card graded at 5 by PSA with certificate No. 90586922 and a 1941 Play Ball No. 14 Ted Williams card in near-mint-to-mint condition graded at 8 by PSA with certificate No. 05159693.
If you possess any information regarding the whereabouts of these elusive treasures, Strongsville police urge you to come forward and assist in their recovery. Reach out by contacting Strongsville police at 440-580-3247 and referencing report No. 2024-000693. Let’s solve this missing piece of the puzzle together.
