Two individuals found themselves in hot water, facing accusations of being involved in a high-stakes heist totaling over $2 million in priceless vintage baseball cards. Jacob Paxton, a 27-year-old employee at a Strongsville Best Western, made his plea of not guilty to charges that included aggravated theft of $1.5 million or more and tampering with evidence. On the other hand, 50-year-old Jason Bowling entered his own plea of not guilty, but to a single charge of having possession of stolen property.
The elaborate scheme began unfolding when a vigilant FedEx delivery person dropped off a package brimming with 54 rare and valuable baseball cards, amounting to a staggering $2,123,447 in worth, at the Best Western in Strongsville on April 17. This valuable parcel was earmarked for delivery to Memory Lane Inc., a company eagerly participating in a thrilling sports card conference adjacent to the hotel.
The plot thickened when a representative from Memory Lane Inc. showed up at the hotel on April 18 to collect the package and was met with a baffling discovery – the package had mysteriously vanished into thin air. The perplexing disappearance triggered an immediate response from law enforcement, setting the stage for a thorough investigation by the Strongsville police.
As the diligent detectives dug deeper into the case, their efforts led them to Paxton, who had been sifting through numerous packages delivered to the hotel and stealthily pocketing the valuable baseball cards. The trail didn’t end there; their pursuit ultimately led them to Bowling’s residence in Cleveland, where the stolen goods were traced back to. Acting on this breakthrough, the police swiftly obtained a search warrant and raided Bowling’s home on May 23, successfully recovering a remarkable 52 out of the 54 stolen baseball cards.
Despite the significant headway made in the case, there are still two elusive cards that have managed to evade the grasp of law enforcement – a coveted 1909 Ramly Walter Johnson card and a prized 1941 Ted Williams card. The hunt for these missing treasures is still ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with valuable information regarding the whereabouts of these cards to promptly reach out to the Strongsville Police at 440.580.3247, citing report #2024-000693.
The courtroom drama unfolded as Paxton and Bowling fervently asserted their innocence by pleading not guilty to the grave charges leveled against them. Paxton, with a bond set at $50,000, is slated to make his next appearance in court on July 15. Meanwhile, Bowling, whose bond stands at $100,000, will also be making a return to the judicial arena on the very same date, as both suspects continue to navigate the choppy waters of the justice system.
