What started as a simple consignment of a valuable LEGO Star Wars collection spiraled into a complex legal battle, a YouTube sensation, and an exposé of corporate practices and local law enforcement. This isn’t just a story about plastic bricks; it’s a deep dive into contractual disputes, franchise complexities, and the power of digital media in uncovering alleged injustices.
The Unfolding Drama: A Consignment Gone Wrong
Our story begins with Brian Mansell, whose father had amassed an impressive collection of rare, boxed LEGO Star Wars sets. Valued at an estimated $200,000 initially (though later re-evaluated at $107,000), this collection was intended to fund future family endeavors. Due to his father’s medical needs, the family decided to sell, entrusting the collection to a local Bricks & Minifigs franchise in Salem, Oregon, under a consignment agreement.
Bricks & Minifigs, a resale chain specializing in LEGO products, operates on a franchise model. Crucially, they are a separate entity from The LEGO Group, focusing on reselling both used and new items (though not explicitly new LEGO sets directly from the manufacturer). They had been working for years to become an authorized LEGO retailer, a status they had not yet achieved.
The Takeover: An Abrupt Shift in Ownership
The owners of the Salem franchise, Crystal and Benjamin Gorman, were in the process of selling their franchise to relocate. However, before the sale could be finalized, a corporate representative, along with new franchise owners Brandon Best and Josh Johnson, executed a hostile takeover of the store. Crystal was allegedly accused of unpaid franchise fees and rent, and despite her pleas to secure records for consignors, she was forced to vacate the premises.
Reports from this tumultuous night, including security footage, indicate that only $21,000 worth of the consigned collection was accounted for in the store following the takeover. Brian Mansell, whose valuable collection was still largely unaccounted for, found himself in a precarious position.
The YouTuber Enters the Fray: Reckless Ben’s Investigation
Frustrated by the lack of resolution through official channels, Brian sought help from popular YouTuber Reckless Ben, known for his investigative journalism style. Ben, famous for exposing various controversies, agreed to take on the case, bringing with him a substantial audience and resources.
Confrontations and Creative Tactics
Reckless Ben’s approach was anything but conventional:
- Initial Confrontation: Ben directly confronted the new owners and employees at the Bricks & Minifigs store, leading to a trespass warning from local police.
- Corporate Challenge: He then visited the corporate headquarters in Utah, confronting CEO Amon McNeff. This also resulted in a trespass order.
- The “Woods” Ruse: In a bizarre attempt to gather information and footage, Ben and his team lured an 18-year-old store employee into the woods under the pretense of a Mr. Beast-style giveaway. The employee, surprisingly, went along but ultimately provided valuable contact information for Josh Johnson.
The Small Claims Strategy: A Clever Legal Maneuver
Faced with the prohibitive costs and complexities of a $200,000 lawsuit, Brian and Ben devised an ingenious strategy. They recruited 20 individuals, each taking out a $10,000 loan to “buy” portions of Brian’s still-owned LEGO collection. This allowed each individual to file a small claims lawsuit for $10,000. Under small claims court rules, this strategy enabled numerous individual cases, circumventing the high threshold of a single large lawsuit.
When the summonses were served, the Bricks & Minifigs franchise owners failed to appear in court, resulting in default judgments against them. The victory was short-lived, however, as the location promptly shut down, rendering collection of the judgments impossible from the now-defunct entity.
Police Involvement and Alleged Harassment
The saga took an alarming turn with the repeated involvement of the American Fork Police Department, where the new owners resided. Ben and his team reported multiple instances of alleged harassment and obstruction by the police, including:
- Immediate Trespassing: Police were routinely called to immediately trespass Ben and his associates from properties associated with the new owners, often without apparent cause before any actual altercation.
- Traffic Stops and Searches: Ben’s team experienced arbitrary traffic stops, including a lengthy three-hour detention and a vehicle search based on an anonymous tip about “heroin” – which proved unfounded.
- Obstruction of Process Servers: Attempts to legally serve personal lawsuits against the new owners were reportedly thwarted by the police, who allegedly trespassed process servers and even refused to serve papers themselves.
- GoFundMe Interference: Police reportedly blocked attempts to display promotional banners for a GoFundMe campaign, leading to arrests and confiscation of materials.
- Airbnb Raid: The culmination of police involvement was a raid on Ben’s Airbnb, based on an anonymous tip alleging stolen LEGOs and a fabricated claim that Ben was “armed and dangerous.” This raid led to multiple arrests and a dislocated shoulder for Ben.
The Unredacted Footage
In an attempt to refute Ben’s claims, the American Fork Police Department released bodycam footage, which they heavily redacted. However, an unredacted version was inadvertently uploaded, quickly discovered by YouTubers, and widely disseminated online. This footage reportedly revealed officers discussing ways to find charges against Ben, making light of the situation, and appearing to have a friendly rapport with the new franchise owners, fueling accusations of bias and misconduct.
The Coffeezilla Deep Dive: Unraveling the Financials
Noted investigative YouTuber Coffeezilla conducted a meticulous analysis of the financial records, interviewing all parties involved and examining spreadsheets provided by corporate and franchise owners. His findings offered a sobering perspective on the true scope of the dispute:
- Actual Collection Value: The initial $200,000 valuation was inflated. The actual consignment value was $107,000.
- Sold and Paid Items: About $24,000 worth of items had been sold, and Brian had received $17,000—his agreed-upon portion.
- Accounting Errors: Significant discrepancies were attributed to poor bookkeeping by the previous franchise owners, including unrecorded sales and layaway items.
- Reckless Ben’s Purchase: Reckless Ben’s own company, MNR Productions, had reportedly purchased $20,000 worth of the collection, which was later found at the original owner’s house.
Coffeezilla concluded that the unaccounted-for product amounted to around $10,000, likely sold unknowingly by the new franchise owners due to continued poor inventory management. The situation, while serious, was magnified by a combination of miscommunication, poor record-keeping, and escalating tensions rather than a deliberate large-scale theft.
The Lingering Aftermath and Legal Quagmire
The “Bricks and Minifigs” saga remains an ongoing, complex legal battle:
- Multiple Lawsuits: Bricks & Minifigs corporate is suing Brian and Reckless Ben. Brian and Reckless Ben are suing Bricks & Minifigs and the new franchise owners. Reckless Ben is also suing the American Fork Police Department.
- Review Bombing: Many Bricks & Minifigs franchises nationwide have faced widespread negative reviews online due to the controversy, illustrating the power of social media in influencing public perception.
- Ben’s Legal Status: Reckless Ben faces arrest warrants for charges like harassment and stalking, leading him to claim he’s fled the jurisdiction, momentarily showcasing a green screen in Mexico before updating viewers from St. Louis.
This entire ordeal serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of poor record-keeping, the complexities of franchise agreements, and how digital activism, while powerful, can sometimes dramatically escalate a dispute beyond its initial scope. What began as a family’s attempt to sell beloved LEGOs for a good cause transformed into an international legal and media spectacle, impacting reputations and legal systems alike.
Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning and laughing a lot while you do, you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode right now!
Sources
Bricks & Minifigs Scandal – Wikipedia
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