News

Two men have pleaded guilty in connection with the theft of vintage baseball cards valued at over $2 million from a hotel in Strongsville, Ohio.

Details of the Case

• Defendants:
  • Jacob Paxton, 27: An employee of the Best Western hotel where the theft occurred. He pleaded guilty to aggravated theft.
  • Jason Bowling, 51: Pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property.

Incident Timeline

• April 17:

  • A FedEx delivery containing 54 vintage baseball cards worth approximately $2,123,447 was dropped off at the Best Western hotel.
  • The package was shipped by Memory Lane Inc. for a sports card conference taking place nearby.

• April 18:

  • A representative from Memory Lane Inc. arrived at the hotel to collect the package but was unable to locate it.
  • The Strongsville Police Department was notified of the missing cards.

Investigation and Recovery

• Findings:

  • Police investigations revealed that Paxton had gone through several packages delivered to the hotel.
  • He allegedly took the baseball cards and brought them to Bowling's residence in Cleveland.

• May 23:

  • Authorities executed a search warrant at Bowling's home.
  • Recovery: 52 of the 54 stolen baseball cards were found.

• Missing Cards:

  • A 1909 Ramly Walter Johnson card.
  • A 1941 Ted Williams card.

Upcoming Sentencing

Both Paxton and Bowling are scheduled to be sentenced on December 16.

Value of the Stolen Cards

• The collection included rare and vintage cards, significantly increasing their monetary value.
• The total estimated worth of the stolen cards was over $2 million.

Police Statements

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley commended the investigative efforts that led to the swift recovery of most of the stolen items.

Community Impact

The theft raised concerns about security measures at events and venues handling high-value collectibles. Organizers and participants are urged to remain vigilant to prevent similar incidents.