YouTuber's Investigation Into Missing $200,000 LEGO Collection Sparks National Outrage
What started as a family trying to sell a massive LEGO "Star Wars" collection has spiraled into one of the most-watched internet controversies of 2026 — involving a viral YouTuber, a franchise shutdown, alleged police misconduct, and even Patreon's CEO weighing in.
How It Started
In November 2023, Bryan Mansell and his father entered into a consignment agreement with a Bricks & Minifigs franchise location in Keizer, Oregon, to sell off their LEGO "Star Wars" collection — estimated at roughly $200,000. The store's franchise owners at the time, Chrystal Law-Gorman and Benjamin Gorman, agreed to sell the collection and pay the Mansells over time.
By November 2024, about half the collection had been sold, but the Mansells had only received $15,000 of what they were owed. That same month, Bricks & Minifigs corporate terminated the Gorman franchise over payment failures and transferred the store to new owners, Brandon Best and Joshua Johnson. In doing so, the company effectively took possession of the remaining unsold inventory — including the rest of the Mansells' collection — without paying them the balance owed.
Enter Reckless Ben
On May 21, YouTuber Ben Schneider — known online as Reckless Ben — uploaded a video titled "I tracked down the thief who stole $200,000 of LEGO." The video, which documented his investigation of the franchise and the Mansells' situation, quickly racked up millions of views. Schneider is known for investigative content targeting businesses he believes are operating deceptively, with past projects examining Scientology and haunted attraction McKamey Manor.
In the video, Schneider obtained footage from the night the Gormans' franchise was terminated, which appeared to show Chrystal Law-Gorman informing incoming owner Brandon Best of the consignment deal before leaving. With that footage in hand, Schneider attempted to file a lawsuit against Best — but the store temporarily closed, allowing Best to avoid being served.
A Second Video and Alleged Police Misconduct
On May 30, Schneider uploaded a follow-up video, "I got arrested because of legos," detailing what happened when he traveled to Utah to serve Best and co-owner Joshua Johnson with legal papers. According to Schneider, his car was pulled over multiple times under questionable circumstances — first for allegedly running a stop sign he claims dashcam footage disproves, then on suspicion of narcotics. His Airbnb was also raided by American Fork police on the claim that stolen LEGO inventory was inside.
On March 11, Schneider was arrested by the American Fork Police Department on charges including stalking and trespassing. He was released on bond but later fled the state, reportedly to Mexico, following a subsequent arrest warrant.
Schneider noted that Best and Johnson are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that every American Fork officer identified as being involved in the stops and arrest is also a member of the same church. He has alleged the police were acting on behalf of the franchise owners, though those claims have not been adjudicated in court.
The Franchise Responds — and Gets Sued Back
On May 30, Bricks & Minifigs filed a lawsuit against Schneider and the Mansells, alleging harassment. On June 4, the company announced the permanent closure of the Keizer store and the dismissal of Best and Johnson — framing it as a "mutual agreement" — while CEO Ammon McNeff issued a statement pinning blame on the Gormans for failing to disclose the consignment deal to corporate. McNeff stated the company had not received proper paperwork from the Mansells until recently and expressed willingness to meet with Bryan Mansell directly.
Schneider subsequently announced he had been served a gag order preventing him from discussing Bricks & Minifigs publicly. His GoFundMe for the Mansells, which had raised nearly $500,000, was also taken down.
The Internet Piles On
The controversy drew response well beyond the LEGO community. LEGO "Star Wars" YouTuber MandRproductions, who had been a vocal supporter of Bricks & Minifigs for years and had personally met with CEO McNeff, publicly condemned the company's handling of the situation and said he wanted to distance himself from the brand.
Mainstream creators including Coffeezilla, Ludwig, Penguinz0, and Law by Mike also weighed in, criticizing the franchise. Perhaps most notably, Patreon CEO Jack Conte released a video on June 2 after Bricks & Minifigs attempted to have Schneider's Patreon account removed. Conte's response was direct, telling the franchise to "stuff it" and suggesting they try to sue Patreon instead.
As of publication, the lawsuits remain pending, the Mansells have not recovered the full value of their collection, and the controversy shows no signs of cooling down.
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