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Bricks & Minifigs–Reckless Ben controversy

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The Bricks & Minifigs–Reckless Ben controversy is an ongoing dispute involving the retail franchise Bricks & Minifigs (BAM), YouTuber Reckless Ben, and a $200,000 Lego Star Wars collection originally consigned to a franchise location in Keizer, Oregon. The dispute gained attention in May 2026 after Ben published a series of videos alleging that the collection had been illegally retained following a change in franchise ownership. The controversy has also involved the American Fork Police Department and allegations that they are colluding with Bricks & Minifigs.

Bricks & Minifigs

The Bricks & Minifigs logo

Bricks & Minifigs (BAM) is an American retail franchisor founded in 2010 that specializes in buying, selling, and trading new and used Lego products through its over 300 franchised locations in the United States and Canada. The company operates primarily through independently owned franchise stores and is headquartered in Utah.[‡ 1] In 2018, it was acquired by brothers Ammon and Matt McNeff.[1] The current CEO of the company is Ammon McNeff,[2] who has served in his position since 2018.[3]

Consignment dispute

In 2023, 83-year-old Ed Mansell, who was in ill health at the time,[4] consigned his collection of Star Wars Lego sets to a Bricks & Minifigs store in Keizer, Oregon, which he had been collecting since around the early 1990s.[5] The Bricks & Minifigs franchise in Keizer also promoted Mansell's collection as "one of the largest private Star Wars Lego collections in the region" on social media, describing it as being "estimated to be worth well over $200,000".[6] The agreement is reported to have continued until sometime in late 2024, when BAM Franchising ended the contract with the previous owner of the store, Chrystal Law-Gorman, and ownership of the store was given to Brandon Best and Joshua Johnson.[7]

The man's son, Bryan Mansell, claimed that after a change in franchise ownership in November 2024, the new operators refused to return unsold inventory or honor the consignment contract.[8] In response, CEO McNeff stated that BAM Franchising terminated the prior franchise and maintained that consignment agreements are not authorized under franchise rules.[6] The former owner of the franchise in Keizer, Law-Gorman, has since publicly refuted this claim, releasing images of her former franchising contract on Reddit which states that the "franchisee may also offer consignment services".[9] She additionally claims her store was "illegally seized by corporate", was forced out of the store "under threat of police action" and received no prior notice or compensation.[9][10]

Reckless Ben investigation

A parody of the logo of Bricks & Minifigs for a company called We Steal From Old People, with the slogan "Bricks & Minifigs"[‡ 2][11]
External videos
video icon I tracked down the thief who stole $200,000 of Lego
video icon I got arrested because of legos

The dispute gained wider attention after 30-year-old Benjamin Paul Schneider,[12] known on social media as Reckless Ben, published investigation videos on YouTube regarding BAM in May 2026.[13][14][15] As part of his investigation, Schneider employed a series of publicity stunts, including organizing lottery-style raffles and creating a mock rival business called "We Steal From Old People".[16][17] These videos include allegations that corporate personnel involved in terminating the franchise agreement had ties to the incoming operators; such allegations have not yet been adjudicated in court, in large part because of Schneider's extensively-documented difficulties in bringing suit against BAM, and purported collusion by Utah police in creating those difficulties,[6][13] which Schneider suggests is because the officers and new owners of the Keizer franchise, Johnson and Best, are all Mormons,[18] leading to speculation that Bricks & Minifigs and the American Fork Police Department are part of a "Mormon Mafia" conspiracy.[19] Best also owns the franchise in Eugene, Oregon.[7]

The sign that was put up by Schneider at the Keizer store location after it closed down
The image used in Ben Schneider's GoFundMe for Bryan Mansell

Schneider shows that the current franchise owners initially offered to return the Lego sets to Mansell if he issued an apology, though they have reportedly not been returned. He subsequently sued the company,[14] though the Keizer franchisee store permanently closed soon after.[8] He also set up a GoFundMe to raise back the money lost by Mansell,[20][21][22] which had raised over $382,000 as of June 4, 2026;[23] Schneider announced that he would put the donations in a legal trust to help Mansell pay his legal fees.[24] On May 28, 2026, an internal crisis management email allegedly sent to Bricks & Minifigs franchises was leaked and subsequently read on social media by Schneider.[25]

Company response

Bricks & Minifigs CEO Ammon McNeff appeared on a livestream interview on May 29, 2026.[26][‡ 3] McNeff stated that BAM Franchising was not involved in the disputed consignment agreement and argued that responsibility rested with parties directly involved in the original transaction,[6][27] and that the collection was only worth between $60,000 and $80,000.[16]

On May 30, 2026, BAM filed a lawsuit accusing Schneider, Mansell and others of coordinating a harassment and extortion campaign against its franchise owners in Utah and Oregon using the state's RICO statute.[18][28]

On June 4, 2026, Bricks and Minifigs claimed that the Salem, Oregon store would be permanently closed and supposedly mutually agreed to part ways with Salem franchise owners Brandon Best and Joshua Johnson after being lambasted on social media, and that they have contacted Mansell and his family regarding restitution.[29][30]

Police response

External videos
video icon Bricks and Minifigs/Benjamin Schneider Media Release

Schneider also claimed to be involved in legal troubles in Utah,[3][15] having been arrested twice there[31] after visiting Johnson at his house in American Fork,[11] once in an attempt to serve him legal papers.[32] He also alleged that the American Fork Police Department searched his vehicles, arrested, and jailed him for multiple days,[33] further claiming an officer dislocated his shoulder during one of the arrests.[32] On March 10, 2026, Schneider was formally charged with stalking and residential targeted picketing, as well as disorderly conduct and trespassing after multiple stunts at the home of Johnson. He is scheduled to appear in court on June 8, 2026.[18] A second arrest occurred on March 11, 2026, with a judge-approved search warrant to search the Airbnb at which Schneider was staying. Schneider and four of his associates were arrested, with everyone but Schneider later released.[12] As of 2026 he may face five years in prison, with an arrest warrant that prohibits bail, and Schneider claims to have fled to Mexico as a result.[3][18]

On May 29, 2026, the American Fork Police Department released a news release stating that there are no active warrants for Schneider in Utah and that they are not currently seeking him.[18] In the news release, the police also shared videos captured from the body cameras worn by its officers during their interactions with the parties involved.[32] Portions of the videos were either wholly redacted or had audio redacted.[32] Keizer Police confirmed an ongoing investigation reviewed by the Marion County, Oregon District Attorney's Office, and civil litigation related to the dispute was reported as ongoing.[8][6] Schneider posted a rebuttal of the police response on June 1, 2026.[19][34] On June 4, 2026, videos from the body cameras, which were alleged to be of a raw unredacted version, were shared through the initial Dropbox link that the police department posted.[35][36]

Harassment and violence by vigilantes

The controversy has had an impact on neighboring police departments that have no involvement in the dispute; dispatchers have been inundated with calls about the case, some of them abusive and harassing, potentially delaying emergency responses.[37] Journalist YouTuber Coffeezilla documented an in-store attack by a vigilante motivated by the controversy.Findeisen, Stephen (June 5, 2026). "lego vigilantes need to stop" (video). youtube.com. Schneider declared that he was firmly against the harassment of unrelated parties.[28]

Reactions

The controversy has attracted attention from YouTubers, legal commentators, journalists, and news organizations. Commentary channels such as Asmongold,[‡ 4] Devin Stone,[‡ 5] Cr1TiKaL and xQc, among others, have criticized Bricks & Minifigs and the American Fork Police Department's response to the controversy.[23]

On June 3, 2026, Patreon CEO Jack Conte announced in a YouTube video that Bricks and Minifigs had sent them a legal notice to shut down Schneider's Patreon account, and stated that "Bricks & Minifigs can stuff it. We are keeping Ben’s page up. And if Bricks & Minifigs doesn’t like that, they can sue us."[38][39]

On June 4, 2026, a locally owned and operated Bricks & Minifigs franchise in Sacramento, California, announced that they would close for a week from June 13 to 19[40] due to harassment, including death threats, in connection to the dispute.[41]

On June 5, 2026, Schneider appeared on NewsNation.[42]

References

  1. ↑ Kimmel, Ashley (November 19, 2024). "Bricks & Minifigs Coming to Grandview". Columbus Underground. Archived from the original on June 2, 2026. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Bricks and Minifigs Lego scandal deepens as Reckless Ben claims arrest and raises questions over CEO". The Express Tribune. May 27, 2026. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Roy, Madhurima (May 27, 2026). "Who is Ammon McNeff? Bricks and Minifigs CEO comes under fire as Reckless Ben Patreon lego controversy intensifies". Primetimer. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  4. ↑ Abbott, Benjamin (June 5, 2026). "How this $20,000 Lego Star Wars collection ignited a dramatic internet meltdown involving everything from the Mormon church to alleged police corruption". GamesRadar+. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  5. ↑ Masnick, Mike (June 2, 2026). "Everyone In This Lego Dispute Should Have Spoken To A Lawyer Earlier Than They Did". Techdirt. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Peone, Jesse (March 30, 2026). "Keizer Lego Dispute Centers on Star Wars Collection". Salem Business Journal. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  7. 1 2 Varlamos, Vasili (June 4, 2026). "How a $200,000 Lego collection sparked a national internet frenzy". KATU. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 Woodworth, Whitney (March 21, 2026). "Sign on shuttered Keizer store accuses Bricks & Minifigs of Lego theft". Statesman Journal. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Former Bricks and Minifigs franchise owner speaks out over $200K Lego collection dispute". The Express Tribune. May 27, 2026. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Ex-Bricks and Minifigs franchise owner details $200K Lego seizure in lengthy follow-up video". The Express Tribune. May 29, 2026. Archived from the original on May 29, 2026. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  11. 1 2 "Viral videos allege pricey Lego theft. Here's how Utah police entered the conversation". WSVN 7News. Associated Press. June 5, 2026. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  12. 1 2 Shelton, Rob (May 30, 2026). "YouTuber arrested twice by AF police over Lego dispute". American Fork Citizen. Archived from the original on May 31, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  13. 1 2 Pring, Joe (May 12, 2026). "Dispute over $200k Lego Star Wars collection triggers lawsuits and viral investigation". Dexerto. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  14. 1 2 Kotzer, Zack (May 24, 2026). "YouTuber Raided By Police In Attempt To Rescue Lego Collection". Kotaku. Archived from the original on May 28, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  15. 1 2 "Inside the $200K Lego battle: Reckless Ben vs Bricks and Minifigs, 'cult', and legal threats". The Express Tribune. May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  16. 1 2 Woodworth, Whitney (June 2, 2026). "The latest on Keizer Bricks & Minifigs and prized Star Wars Lego set". Statesman Journal.
  17. ↑ Kotzer, Zack (May 24, 2026). "YouTuber Starts A Cult And Is Raided By Police In Attempt To Recover Old Man's Star Wars Lego Collection". Kotaku. Archived from the original on May 30, 2026. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 Miller, Jordan; Moilanen, Samantha (May 30, 2026). "A dispute over a prized Star Wars Lego collection led to a YouTube crusade. Then came the stalking charges in Utah". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on May 30, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  19. 1 2 Parker, Lewis (June 1, 2026). "YouTuber Investigating Stolen Lego Star Wars Collection Flees To Mexico". Kotaku. Archived from the original on June 3, 2026. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  20. ↑ Roy, Madhurima (May 27, 2026). "What is the Bricks and Minifigs lego scam scandal? Entire $200,000 lawsuit controversy explained as Reckless Ben GoFundMe raises more than $10K". Primetimer. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Reckless Ben's GoFundMe passes $10K amid Bricks and Minifigs Lego lawsuit dispute". The Express Tribune. May 27, 2026. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Reckless Ben's GoFundMe for Bryan Mansell surpasses $100K amid ongoing Bricks and Minifigs dispute". The Express Tribune. May 31, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  23. 1 2 Koebler, Jason (June 4, 2026). "I Must Attempt to Explain the Lego Scandal Rocking YouTube, Entire State of Utah". 404 Media. Archived from the original on June 4, 2026. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  24. ↑ FOX 5 Washington DC (June 3, 2026). 'We never thought it would get this crazy.' Reckless Ben on what's next in viral Lego case. Retrieved June 3, 2026 – via YouTube.
  25. ↑ "Reckless Ben reveals leaked Bricks and Minifigs email detailing PR strategy for $200K Lego scandal". The Express Tribune. May 29, 2026. Archived from the original on May 29, 2026. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Bricks and Minifigs CEO Ammon McNeff addresses $200K Lego dispute in lengthy interview". The Express Tribune. May 31, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Bricks and Minifigs issues official statement on $200K Lego dispute". The Express Tribune. May 29, 2026. Archived from the original on May 29, 2026. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  28. 1 2 Jones, Abigail (June 3, 2026). "'I just thought it was such a crazy level of injustice': YouTuber at center of Lego dispute speaks, explains why he got involved in the first place". ABC4.com. KTVX. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  29. ↑ Jones, Abigail (June 4, 2026). "Bricks & Minifigs 'parts ways' with franchise owners at center of stolen Lego scandal, offers to meet with collector". ABC4.com. KTVX.
  30. ↑ Wirthlin, Joe (June 4, 2026). "Utah-based reseller parts ways with owners involved in viral Lego theft allegations". KSL Newsradio. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  31. ↑ Keel, Carson (June 3, 2026). "Nationwide Lego resale store caught up in alleged theft scandal, YouTuber lawsuit". WZDX. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  32. 1 2 3 4 Jones, Abigail. "Conflict over purportedly stolen Legos leads to accusations of misconduct against American Fork Police Department". ABC4.com. KTVX. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Reckless Ben details arrests in new video about Bricks and Minifigs $200K Lego collection dispute". The Express Tribune. May 31, 2026. Archived from the original on May 31, 2026. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  34. ↑ Shelton, Rob (June 3, 2026). "Reckless Ben fires back at AF Police Chief's statement". American Fork Citizen. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  35. ↑ Parker, Lewis (June 4, 2026). "Police Force Involved In Lego Investigation 'Hacked,' YouTuber Claims". Kotaku. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  36. ↑ Jones, Abigail (June 4, 2026). "Alleged stolen Legos leads to accusations of misconduct against Utah police". NewsNation. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  37. ↑ Jones, Abigail (June 1, 2026). "Utah agencies inundated by calls as American Fork Police faces controversy over Lego YouTuber arrest". ABC4.com. KTVX. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  38. ↑ Phillips, Tom (June 3, 2026). "'Bricks & Minifigs Can Stuff It': The Boss of Patreon Just Publicly Shamed a LEGO Reseller Embroiled in One of the Wildest Internet Dramas in Years". IGN. Archived from the original on June 3, 2026. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  39. ↑ K, Pallavi (June 3, 2026). ""That's the guy from Pomplamoose": Patreon CEO Jack Conte's link to indie band surprises fans as video slamming Bricks & Minifigs goes viral". SoapCentral. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  40. ↑ Padilla, Cecilio (June 5, 2026). "Sacramento Bricks & Minifigs caught in fallout from Oregon LEGO dispute". CBS Sacramento. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  41. ↑ Reynoso, Esteban (June 5, 2026). "Bricks & Minifigs Pocket Sacramento set to close for a week after harassment and death threats". KCRA. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  42. ↑ Carter, Tatiana; Weber, Jesse (June 5, 2026). "YouTuber claims hacker released police bodycam footage in Lego dispute". NewsNation. Retrieved June 5, 2026.

Primary sources

In the text, these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡):

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