Two individuals were handed down sentences for their involvement in a $2.1 million baseball card heist at a Strongsville hotel. Jacob R. Paxton, 28, and Jason Bowling, 51, faced the consequences of their actions in court.
Paxton, an employee at the Best Western Plus hotel, admitted to taking part in the theft of valuable baseball cards in April. He pleaded guilty to aggravated theft and received a four to six-year prison term, followed by two to five years of community control. Additionally, Paxton was ordered to pay more than $89,000 in restitution to the victims. Despite expressing remorse for his actions during the court proceedings, Paxton found himself answering for his role in the crime.
The stolen cards were initially intended for a sports card expo at the nearby Brunswick Auto Mart Arena. However, Paxton intercepted the packages and helped himself to the valuable collectibles. Following the theft, he handed over the cards to Bowling, claiming that he was unaware of their true origins. Bowling, in turn, believed that the cards had been discarded and were simply found items.
Law enforcement got wind of the stolen goods, leading to a search of Bowling’s residence and the recovery of all but two of the missing cards. Through a combination of investigative techniques such as phone records, surveillance footage, and witness statements, authorities were able to build a case linking both men to the crime. Despite Bowling’s initial lack of knowledge about the cards’ illicit acquisition, he pled guilty to receiving stolen property and was sentenced to one year of community control.
The repercussions of the heist were not only felt by the perpetrators but also by the victim, Memory Lane Inc. The company suffered significant financial losses, including the forfeiture of a $2 million loan and $100,000 in interest, alongside damage to its reputation in the sports card industry.
Despite the recovery of most of the stolen cards, two notable items are still missing. These include a 1909 T204 Ramly Walter Johnson card with a PSA grade of 5 and certificate No. 90586922, as well as a 1941 Play Ball No. 14 Ted Williams card in near-mint-to-mint condition with a PSA grade of 8 and certificate No. 05159693. Anyone with information regarding these missing cards is urged to contact Strongsville police and reference report No. 2024-000693 to aid in their recovery.
The case serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of succumbing to temptation and making poor choices, not only for the individuals involved but also for the businesses impacted by such criminal activities.
