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YouTuber Flees To Mexico After Arrest in $200,000 Lego Ownership Dispute

Viral videos have turned a contested consignment dispute into a police investigation that has disrupted Utah emergency dispatch and fueled online conspiracy theories.

Overview

  • Benjamin Schneider, known as Reckless Ben, began investigating Bryan Mansell’s claim that a Star Wars Lego collection cosigned to an Oregon Bricks & Minifigs branch was taken by new owners.
  • American Fork police stopped Schneider’s crew multiple times, executed a search warrant at the Airbnb where he was staying, found no Lego there, and arrested Schneider and several crew members on stalking and targeted residential picketing charges.
  • Schneider has accused officers of redacting bodycam audio and published footage he says includes an officer saying the warrant mentioned Legos, a claim the police dispute.
  • Schneider says he left the U.S. for Mexico after reporting that a new “no-bail” arrest warrant was issued to him following his release on bail.
  • Widespread online amplification has trended a so-called “Mormon Mafia” narrative, prompted threats and misdirected calls that forced multiple Utah dispatch centers and police departments to publicly warn people to stop clogging emergency lines.