Two men faced their reckoning on Monday for their involvement in the daring theft of rare baseball cards worth a staggering $2.1 million from a hotel in Strongsville earlier this year. Jacob R. Paxton, a 28-year-old from Brunswick who was employed at the hotel, admitted guilt in October to aggravated theft, leading to his subsequent sentencing of four to six years behind bars and two to five years of community control. Paxton was also directed to make restitution totaling over $89,000, a sum meant to compensate for the financial losses incurred.
The elaborate heist unfolded as collectible items, dispatched by the reputable vintage sports card dealer Memory Lane Inc., made their way to the Best Western Plus hotel along Royalton Road on April 17. The precious cards were destined for an exhibition at the Brunswick Auto Mart Arena located nearby. Accusations hurled at Paxton, an inside collaborator, alleged that he sifted through incoming parcels at the hotel and made off with the invaluable cards, setting the stage for the dramatic caper to unfold.
In a courtroom setting, Paxton expressed contrition for his misdeeds, confessing, “I just want to say that I’m very sorry to the victim, and this doesn’t show who I am.” He revealed personal struggles, stating, “I have a 2-year-old … it’s just me and him.” Delving into his motive, Paxton admitted to initial deceit when questioned by investigators, citing fear as a driving factor behind his actions.
Post-theft, Paxton reached out to Jason Bowling, a 51-year-old from Cleveland, passing on the ill-gotten cards. Bowling’s legal counsel, Jaye Schlachet, contended that his client innocently believed the cards to have been salvaged from a dumpster, oblivious to their stolen origins. Legal proceedings unveiled a search warrant executed at Bowling’s residence on May 23, leading to the recovery of all but two of the missing cards. The investigative efforts hinged on an assortment of evidence, including phone records, surveillance footage, GPS tracking, and eyewitness testimonies linking both culprits to the grand larceny.
Bowling opted for a guilty plea in October on charges of receiving stolen property and was handed a sentence of one year of community control, contrasting starkly with Paxton’s graver punishment. The ramifications of the brazen theft reverberated far and wide, inflicting substantial financial and reputational damage upon Memory Lane Inc. In the aftermath, the company found itself grappling with a lost $2 million loan, coupled with an additional $100,000 in forfeited interest, besides the tarnishing of its once-stellar reputation within the industry.
Despite the legal proceedings and recovery efforts, a shadow looms over the missing cards that have yet to be accounted for. Among the unrecovered treasures are a 1909 T204 Ramly Walter Johnson card, boasting a PSA grade of 5 and certificate No. 90586922, along with a 1941 Play Ball No. 14 Ted Williams card in near-mint-to-mint condition, bearing a PSA grade of 8 and certificate No. 05159693. Authorities urge anyone with pertinent information regarding the whereabouts of these cards to promptly reach out to the Strongsville police department, citing report No. 2024-000693, in a bid to close this gripping chapter of the baseball card heist.
