A complex dispute involving Bryan Mansell's valuable Star Wars Lego collection, estimated at $200,000, has captivated online audiences. Mansell claims his collection was stolen after he consigned it to an Oregon Bricks & Minifigs franchise. When the corporate entity took over the store and transferred ownership to an American Fork-based individual, Mansell alleges he never received his money or his Legos back. This led Mansell to seek assistance from YouTuber Ben Schneider, known as Reckless Ben, who initiated a viral campaign against Bricks & Minifigs.
Schneider's campaign involved numerous high-profile stunts, including placing banners alleging theft, delivering a satirical award for "most Legos stolen," and filing multiple small-claims court lawsuits. He also created a website titled "We Steal from Old People" with the Bricks & Minifigs logo and displayed a sign stating "we stole a family's life savings" near the home of one of the store's new owners. These actions escalated to the point where American Fork police became involved in multiple incidents, including responding to calls from Bricks & Minifigs owner Josh Johnson, who claimed Schneider was harassing him while attempting to serve legal papers. In March, Schneider was arrested and charged with stalking, targeted residential picketing, disorderly conduct, and criminal trespass.
Bricks & Minifigs, in turn, filed a lawsuit on May 27 against Schneider, Mansell, and others, seeking over $300,000 and accusing them of defamation, disparagement, conspiracy, stalking, trespass, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The company claims the Lego collection's value was exaggerated, stating it was closer to $60,000 or $80,000, contradicting their previous social media advertisements valuing it "well over $200,000." They also allege the Oregon location closed due to stalking and bomb threats spurred by the viral videos, not because of lost lawsuits. The American Fork Police Department has faced accusations of misconduct, with some online users alleging they are covering up a crime for Bricks & Minifigs, prompting the department to release bodycam footage and a statement on May 29 to clarify their actions and emphasize their role in enforcing Utah law. A Utah judge issued a temporary injunction on June 10, barring Schneider from further discussing the dispute.
