Two men have been sentenced for their involvement in the theft of rare baseball cards worth $2.1 million from a Strongsville hotel. The incident occurred earlier this year when the collectibles, shipped by vintage sports card dealer Memory Lane Inc., went missing at the Best Western Plus hotel along Royalton Road.
One of the men, Jacob R. Paxton, 28, employed at the hotel, pleaded guilty to aggravated theft in October. He received a sentence of four to six years in prison, followed by two to five years of community control, along with an order to pay over $89,000 in restitution. Despite expressing regret in court and acknowledging his wrongdoing, Paxton had initially failed to disclose information about the stolen cards to detectives out of fear.
The stolen cards were later found in the possession of Jason Bowling, 51, from Cleveland. Bowling pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property and received a sentence of one year of community control. Although Bowling claimed he thought the cards were found in a dumpster and had no knowledge of their stolen nature, evidence linking both men to the crime led to their convictions.
The theft caused significant financial and reputational damage to Memory Lane Inc., resulting in the loss of a $2 million loan, $100,000 in interest, and tarnishing the company’s reputation. Two of the stolen cards still remain missing, including a 1909 T204 Ramly Walter Johnson card with a PSA grade of 5 and a 1941 Play Ball No. 14 Ted Williams card in near-mint-to-mint condition with a PSA grade of 8.
Authorities urge anyone with information about the missing cards to contact Strongsville police, referencing report No. 2024-000693. The impact of this crime serves as a reminder of the consequences of theft and the importance of upholding integrity and honesty in all actions.
