In a twist straight out of a Hollywood heist movie, two men have been sentenced in connection to the daring theft of rare baseball cards worth a whopping $2.1 million from a Strongsville hotel earlier this year. The elaborate scheme involved Jacob R. Paxton, 28, of Brunswick, who worked at the hotel and a Cleveland man named Jason Bowling.
Paxton, who was employed at the Best Western Plus hotel on Royalton Road, pleaded guilty to aggravated theft back in October. The court handed down a four to six-year prison sentence, followed by two to five years of community control. Additionally, Paxton was ordered to pay over $89,000 in restitution, leaving him undoubtedly feeling the weight of his actions. Although a charge of tampering with evidence was dropped as part of his plea deal, the consequences of his crime are inescapable.
The audacious heist unfolded when vintage sports card dealer Memory Lane Inc. entrusted the valuable collectibles to a shipment destined for a sports card expo at the Brunswick Auto Mart Arena. However, greed got the better of Paxton, who saw an opportunity in the unguarded packages and made off with the prized possessions. His actions have left a stain on his conscience, as he stood in court expressing remorse for his selfish deeds, especially acknowledging the impact on the victim and his 2-year-old child.
Following the theft, Paxton turned to Bowling, 51, for help in moving the stolen cards. Bowling, represented by attorney Jaye Schlachet, maintained that he believed the cards were simply discarded treasures, unaware of the true origin of the ill-gotten goods. Despite this claim, authorities uncovered a different narrative through a thorough investigation involving search warrants, surveillance footage, and witness testimonies, ultimately leading them to Bowling’s doorstep.
In a separate court appearance, Bowling entered a guilty plea to receiving stolen property and was sentenced to a year of community control. The return of most of the stolen cards from his possession brought some closure to the case, but the fate of two elusive cards remains a mystery that continues to haunt Memory Lane Inc. The missing pieces are a 1909 T204 Ramly Walter Johnson card with a PSA grade of 5 and a 1941 Play Ball No. 14 Ted Williams card in near-mint-to-mint condition with a PSA grade of 8.
The repercussions of the heist have been severe for Memory Lane Inc., causing both financial losses and damage to the company’s reputation. An impact statement revealed the loss of a substantial $2 million loan, along with $100,000 in interest, as well as a tarnished image in the industry. The lingering effects of the crime serve as a cautionary tale against the lure of quick riches and the consequences of succumbing to such temptations.
As the search for the remaining missing cards continues, anyone with information is urged to step forward and assist the authorities in closing this chapter of the high-stakes baseball card heist in Strongsville. The saga of greed, deception, and the allure of stolen treasures serves as a stark reminder that crime ultimately leaves a trail of broken trust and shattered lives in its wake.