A major fight is happening in the LEGO world right now. A popular toy store chain called Bricks and Minifigs is facing serious accusations. People claim the company stole a massive Star Wars LEGO collection worth over $200,000 from a father and his son.
The situation has blown up online. YouTuber Reckless Ben got involved to help the family. He recently said police raided him during his investigation. His GoFundMe campaign to help the family pay for lawyers has now raised more than $12,000. The company is now fighting back with a strong defense, denying all claims of wrongdoing.
The $200,000 Star Wars Collection at the Center of the Dispute
The story starts with Bryan Mansell and his 83-year-old father. For over 20 years, they collected rare Star Wars LEGO sets. They put together 780 sets and more than 1,200 minifigures. The father originally planned to sell the collection to pay for his grandchildren’s college education.
In late 2023, the father got sick. Bryan needed money for medical bills. He decided to sell the collection through a Bricks and Minifigs store in Keizer, Oregon. They signed a consignment agreement. The store would sell the LEGOs for them. In return, the family would get a 35% commission on sales.
The deal worked well at first. The store even promoted the collection on social media, calling it “well over $200,000.” Bryan would visit every month to pick up checks for the items that sold.
What Went Wrong Between the Family and the Store?
Everything fell apart in November 2024. The store changed ownership. The new operators took control of the building. They also kept the Mansell family’s LEGO collection. The family says the new owners removed tags that identified the collection as theirs.
Bryan Mansell tried to get his property back. According to reports, the new management threatened to call the police if he ever came to the store. The family then spent months trying to use legal channels. But the cost of a court fight was too high.
“At the end of the day, I just want either a fair payout for the collection, the collection back, or the store itself run out of town if they don’t want to do what is right.” – Bryan Mansell
The previous franchise owners, Chrystal and Robert Gorman, tried to help. They sent copies of the original contract and security footage to the corporate office to prove the collection belonged to the Mansells.
How Reckless Ben Turned This Into a Viral Fight
Reckless Ben, whose real name is Ben Schneider, is a YouTuber known for stunts and investigations. He picked up the Mansell family’s story. He started a very public campaign against Bricks and Minifigs.
Ben’s tactics were unusual. He set up fake rival businesses to mock the chain. He held lottery raffles to get attention. He even tried to start a LEGO “cult” to cause problems inside the stores. He filmed himself confronting the company’s CEO Ammon McNeff.
Ben also created a GoFundMe page called “Help Bryan Recover His Stolen LEGO Collection.” The goal is $28,000. As of today, it has raised over $12,000 from fans who want justice. The fundraiser is meant to cover legal costs for the family to fight the company in court.
Recently, Ben claimed things got dangerous. He said the police raided him while he was in Utah investigating the company’s headquarters. In a video, he said, “I am in some serious legal trouble right now.”
Former Franchise Owner Breaks Her Silence
Chrystal Gorman, the person who originally ran the Keizer store, spoke out on TikTok on May 26. She painted a picture of a company that treats its own people badly.
Gorman claims the corporate office “illegally seized” her store over a year ago. She says she and her husband lost their life savings. They were removed from the premises “under threat of police action” without any payment or notice.
“They have thus far shown no indication to act in good faith whatsoever.” – Chrystal Gorman, former franchise owner
She revealed that her legal fees have already gone over $30,000. She has now filed a lawsuit against the company. She also started her own GoFundMe to help fight the battle.
Bricks and Minifigs Fires Back: ‘We Do Not Exploit Anyone’
As the backlash grew louder, Bricks and Minifigs corporate finally released a detailed statement defending itself. The company is pushing back hard against the accusations.
First, the company says it had no idea about the Mansell deal. They argue the consignment agreement was “unauthorized.” Corporate says franchise owners are independent. They claim the main office did not sign or approve the deal with the Mansell family.
“To be absolutely clear: Bricks & Minifigs does not condone, tolerate, or participate in the exploitation of anyone, especially older adults or vulnerable members of our community.” – Bricks and Minifigs Statement
The company argues that the online story is missing facts. They say the situation is a “complex business dispute” that has been reduced to edited social media clips. They also claim there is a lack of “serious evidence” like original documents.
Bricks and Minifigs states that its priority is protecting its stores and employees. They believe trying to force a business outcome through public pressure is not fair to the innocent workers.
The Current Status: Store Closed and Police Investigation
The physical store in Keizer, Oregon, is now shut down. A sign even appeared on the building recently. It read: “Permanently closed. We stole a family’s life savings. They sued. We lost.” However, it is unclear who put the sign up. Bryan Mansell said he was not involved.
Keizer Police have confirmed an investigation is ongoing. The case is being reviewed by the District Attorney’s Office to decide if it is a criminal matter or just a civil dispute.
The LEGO collection has still not been returned to the Mansell family. Reckless Ben has said he will not stop until the LEGOs are back with their rightful owner, despite his claims of facing legal trouble and having to leave the United States for Mexico recently.
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