AMERICAN FORK, UTAH — A corporate franchiser for Bricks and Minifigs, a nationwide franchise of LEGO resale stores, was sued over allegations that it stole more than $200,000 worth of LEGO products from a family in Oregon. Bryan Mansell alleges his family left a Star Wars LEGO collection at an Oregon location under a consignment agreement.
Corporate management transferred ownership of the store to a new executive based in American Fork, Utah. Mansell states he did not receive his collection or financial compensation following the transfer. YouTuber Ben Schneider published videos accusing the company of theft and failing to honor the consignment agreement.
Schneider was arrested twice in Utah in March after visiting the residence of franchise executive Josh Johnson on multiple occasions. He was charged on March 27 with stalking and targeted residential picketing. "We were just sitting in our Airbnb, just coming up with a game plan, and all of a sudden we see knock, knock, knock, everyone outside, and there's this giant gun pointed at my face. What did we do?" Schneider said.
Bricks and Minifigs corporate management filed a lawsuit against Schneider and Mansell, alleging they created online content to defraud and manipulate the company. Multiple individual franchise locations reported decreased sales during the controversy. "I'm the one investigating the other people for stealing the LEGOs, so why did they get a call that we stole the LEGOs?" Schneider said.