Two individuals found themselves embroiled in a high-stakes baseball card caper that ended with stolen cards worth a hefty $2.1 million. The theft took place at a Strongsville hotel, where the rare collectibles were supposed to be delivered for an exciting sports card expo. However, Jacob R. Paxton, a 28-year-old employee at the hotel, had other plans for the valuable cards.
Paxton, hailing from Brunswick, Ohio, took a guilty plea last October for aggravated theft. As a consequence, he was slapped with a four to six-year prison sentence, followed by a period of two to five years under community control. Moreover, Paxton was ordered to pay back over $89,000 in restitution to make amends for his misdeed. Although a charge of tampering with evidence was dropped in his plea bargain, the repercussions of his actions echoed profoundly.
During his court appearance, Paxton expressed remorse for his wrongdoing, stating that he deeply regretted the harm caused to the victim. He also revealed that he initially misled detectives about having possession of the stolen cards out of fear. Paxton, a father to a young child, emphasized that the incident was not a reflection of his true character and that he had been striving to do his best under the circumstances.
Following the theft, Paxton handed over the pilfered baseball cards to Jason Bowling, a 51-year-old individual from Cleveland. Bowling’s defense attorney contended that his client was under the impression that the cards had been discovered in a dumpster and was unaware of their stolen origin. However, authorities were not convinced, and a subsequent search of Bowling’s residence on May 23 led to the recovery of all but two of the stolen cards. The investigation pieced together phone records, surveillance footage, GPS data, and witness testimonies to nail down the involvement of both men in the elaborate scheme.
Bowling ended up pleading guilty in October to a charge of receiving stolen property. His sentencing landed him in a one-year stint under community control. The repercussions of their actions extended beyond legal ramifications, causing significant financial and reputational damage to Memory Lane Inc., the vintage sports card dealer. As per a victim impact statement, the company suffered the loss of a $2 million loan and an additional $100,000 in interest, alongside enduring a tarnished reputation in the aftermath of the ordeal.
Despite the recovery efforts, two notable cards from the heist are still at large. The missing items are described as 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. Strongsville police have issued a plea to the public for any information regarding the whereabouts of these elusive cards, urging individuals to come forward and assist in closing the case.
