Key facts
- A valuable Star Wars Lego collection belonging to 83-year-old Ed Mansell is missing.
- The collection was on consignment with a Bricks & Minifigs franchise in Salem, Oregon.
- Over $52,000 worth of Legos were sold before the franchisee was ousted.
- The dispute has led to multiple lawsuits, an arrest, and viral conspiracy theories.
- YouTuber Ben Schneider was charged with stalking and other offenses for his campaign against the company.
- The Bricks & Minifigs parent company claims the missing collection is worth $80,000 and alleges a conspiracy.
- A GoFundMe for the Mansell family has raised over $465,000.
A valuable collection of Star Wars Lego sets, amassed by 83-year-old Ed Mansell as a potential nest egg, has gone missing, igniting a complex legal battle and a wave of online conspiracy theories.
The saga began when Mansell's son, Bryan, arranged for the collection to be sold on consignment through Chrystal Law, the owner of a Bricks & Minifigs franchise in Salem, Oregon. The franchise advertised the acquisition as one of the largest and most valuable Star Wars Lego collections globally.
Over the course of a year, the store reportedly sold at least $52,000 worth of the Legos. However, in late 2024, Bricks & Minifigs terminated Law's franchise due to an unpaid debt and transferred ownership to new operators. Bryan Mansell discovered the change when his consignment payments ceased and, upon visiting the store, found the new owners had no knowledge of his father's collection or the consignment agreement. He now believes the remaining collection was stolen and has filed a police report.
The dispute escalated when YouTuber Ben Schneider, known as Reckless Ben, became involved after being approached by Mansell for assistance. Schneider launched a viral campaign against Bricks & Minifigs and its new owners, employing tactics such as creating a website critical of the company and staging protests. These actions led to Schneider being charged by American Fork City police with stalking, targeted residential picketing, disorderly conduct, and criminal trespass.
Schneider's subsequent video, claiming to have located the missing collection and its alleged thief, garnered millions of views, further fueling online speculation and conspiracy theories, including accusations of a police cover-up. The police department issued a statement asserting their actions were limited to fulfilling legal obligations.
In response, Bricks & Minifigs' parent company filed a lawsuit, alleging that Schneider, Law, and others conspired to harass and extort company owners and the new franchisee. The company claims the missing collection is worth $80,000, contradicting Schneider's $200,000 valuation. They characterized the core issue as a private dispute between Law and Mansell, while stating their willingness to help resolve it.
Chrystal Law denies possessing the Lego set, asserting it was part of the inventory transferred to the new owner. She has filed her own lawsuit against Bricks & Minifigs, alleging improper business seizure. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign for the Mansell family has raised over $465,000 to help recover the collection or its value and cover legal costs. A Utah judge has since issued a temporary injunction barring Schneider from discussing the case publicly.