
Jacob R. Paxton and Jason Bowling were sentenced in connection to the theft of rare baseball cards worth $2.1 million from a Strongsville hotel. Paxton, 28, who worked at the hotel, was sentenced to four to six years in prison, followed by two to five years of community control, along with restitution over $89,000. Meanwhile, Bowling, 51, received one year of community control after pleading guilty to receiving stolen property.
The heist took place when collectibles, shipped by vintage sports card dealer Memory Lane Inc., were stolen from the Best Western Plus hotel in April. Paxton, an employee of the hotel, was accused of pilfering the valuable cards from packages delivered to the hotel. He expressed remorse in court and acknowledged his wrongdoing, apologizing to the victim and admitting his initial deception out of fear.
Following the theft, Paxton passed the stolen cards to Bowling, who claimed he thought they were discarded in a dumpster and was unaware of their stolen status. However, a search warrant executed at Bowling’s residence led to the recovery of most of the stolen cards, aided by thorough investigative work utilizing various sources of evidence. Yet, two cards – a 1909 T204 Ramly Walter Johnson card and a 1941 Play Ball No. 14 Ted Williams card – remain missing.
The repercussions of the theft were significant for Memory Lane Inc., as it suffered financial losses and reputational damage. The company reported losing a $2 million loan, $100,000 in interest, and harm to its standing due to the incident. Strongsville police urge anyone with information on the missing cards to contact them referencing the provided report number.
The prosecution and sentencing of the individuals involved in this high-profile baseball card heist highlight the consequences of their actions and the importance of upholding integrity in the handling of valuable collectibles.