Eric Mansell and his son Bryan collected a Lego Star Wars investment for their grandchildren consisting of 780 boxed sets and 1,200 rare figures, valued between $60,000 to $200,000. The family entrusted the collection to Bricks and Minifigs, an after-market Lego reseller operating on consignment. When ownership of the Salem, Utah franchise changed hands in 2024, the new operators—Josh Johnson and Brandon Best—denied the Mansells access to their collection, according to accounts from both parties.
The dispute has since escalated through small claims courts, spawned multiple police encounters, triggered a harassment lawsuit against a YouTube creator who publicized the case, and raised questions about franchise accountability and consumer protections in consignment arrangements. Ben Schneider, known online as Reckless Ben, won a default judgment against Johnson and Best but says he faced obstacles serving court papers and collecting on the award.
What the Right Is Saying
Business groups caution against regulatory overreach that could burden small retailers. The Bricks and Minifigs franchise system consists largely of independent operators, and industry observers note that consignment arrangements carry inherent risks when business relationships dissolve or ownership changes occur.
Defenders of Johnson and Best argue they inherited a situation created by the previous franchisee without adequate inventory records or signed contracts. 'We had no way to verify what was actually in that collection or whether it belonged to whom they claimed,' Bricks and Minifigs CEO Ammon McNeff said in an official statement. The company maintains it found only $2,000 to $5,000 worth of potentially matching items when Johnson and Best took over.
Conservative commentators have noted the case illustrates the risks of treating collectibles as investment vehicles without formal legal structures. 'If you're leaving $200,000 with anyone—consignment or otherwise—you need a written contract, insurance, and receipts that would hold up in court,' wrote one business-focused columnist who covered the story.
What the Left Is Saying
Consumer advocates argue the case exposes gaps in small-business regulation and franchisee oversight. Progressives have pointed to the episode as an example of how consignment agreements—common in resale markets for collectibles, art, and vintage goods—often lack standardized protections for property owners when businesses change hands.
Democratic state legislators in Utah have indicated they may examine whether existing consumer protection statutes adequately cover consignment disputes involving high-value personal property. 'When someone entrusts their property to a business on consignment, there needs to be clear legal recourse if that property disappears,' said one legislative aide familiar with the matter who spoke on background because legislation has not been formally introduced.
Schneider's supporters in online communities have framed his efforts as a fight against corporate opacity. 'This family had documentation. They had receipts. And somehow they couldn't get their property back without going viral,' wrote one commentator on Reddit, reflecting sentiment among those who see the case as emblematic of power imbalances between small consignors and larger resale businesses.
What the Numbers Show
According to Bricks and Minifigs' official statements: The company found between $2,000 and $5,000 worth of sets potentially belonging to the Mansell family. Schneider won a default judgment in small claims court against Johnson and Best. Police were called to Johnson's residence multiple times during attempts to serve legal papers. The store has since closed following the controversy. Bricks and Minifigs filed harassment and extortion lawsuits against Schneider in both Utah and Oregon jurisdictions. No criminal charges have been filed against the Mansell family regarding the collection.
The American Fork Police Department released body camera footage documenting interactions with all parties involved, though no arrests connected to the original property dispute have been reported as of this writing. The department has not publicly identified any criminal conduct related to the missing Lego sets.
The Bottom Line
This case remains active in civil courts and may take months or years to fully resolve. Key questions include whether signed consignment contracts exist, what inventory records were transferred during the franchise ownership change, and whether consumer protection legislation could prevent similar disputes. Schneider is currently outside the United States after posting bail on charges he disputes. The Mansell family has not commented publicly since initial reports emerged. Legal experts say the case underscores the importance of written agreements for any high-value consignment arrangement.
What to watch: Whether Utah or Oregon courts issue rulings that establish precedent for consignment property disputes, and whether state legislatures take up consumer protection measures in response to the publicity surrounding this case.