Timeline

Chronological record, 2023–2026. Filter by status or search. Each entry is labeled as documented (Confirmed), a contested contention (Allegation), or otherwise Reported.

26 of 26 events

~1999–2000 onwardReported
Bryan Mansell and his father (reported ~83) begin collecting LEGO Star Wars, eventually ~780 sets and ~1,200 minifigures (incl. a sealed 10123 Cloud City).
Brick Fanatics
~Feb 2023Reported
Chrystal Law-Gorman and her husband Benjamin ("Ben") Gorman purchase the Salem-Keizer Bricks & Minifigs franchise (Chrystal had reportedly managed the store beforehand). They are the original owner-operators before BAM corporate's later takeover. ⚠ The "Feb 2023" month is single-sourced; the ~21-month operating window (to Nov 2024) is well-attested.
Brick Fanatics; Techdirt; Salem Business Journal
Nov 22, 2023Confirmed
Mansell and franchise operator Chrystal Law-Gorman sign a consignment agreement: store keeps 35% of gross sales (65% to the family), family paid monthly by the 15th, unsold sets remain family property.
Salem Business Journal; Brick Fanatics
Nov 14, 2024Allegation
BAM corporate issues a reported "Notice of Immediate Termination" and repossesses the Salem/Keizer store from franchisees Chrystal & Benjamin Gorman, citing alleged financial defaults (unpaid purchase-price/APA installments, delinquent royalties). The Gormans counter that BAM breached first by never transferring the store bank account and lease. Store later tied to Baker Bricks LLC (Brandon Best, Joshua Johnson).
Techdirt; Salem Business Journal; Sportskeeda; Dexerto
Late 2024 – early 2026Allegation
New operators allegedly refuse to return unsold consigned inventory or honor the contract, treating it as store property.
Sportskeeda; Wikipedia
Early 2026Reported
Mansell reportedly obtains a default judgment in Oregon (small-claims) after non-response; follow-up civil action pursued.
BAM statement; Dexerto
~Mar 2026Reported
The Gormans file their own suit against BAM Franchising over the 2024 store seizure (reported grounds: breach of contract, conversion, defamation, civil conspiracy); they later launch a GoFundMe ("They Took Our LEGO Store & Life Savings"). Separate from the BAM-v-Schneider action.
Techdirt; Salem Business Journal
Mar 8–11, 2026Reported
Schneider travels to American Fork, Utah; Joshua Johnson reportedly contacts AFPD ~4 times reporting conduct he described as harassment. Schneider says he went to serve civil papers.
ABC4; American Fork Citizen; Salt Lake Tribune
Mar 10, 2026Confirmed
First arrest. Schneider charged with stalking, targeted residential picketing, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass (complainant: Johnson). ⚠ Sources conflict on the date: Wikipedia/Dexerto say Mar 10; American Fork Citizen places both arrests on Mar 11; KSL/East Idaho News say he was "charged March 27." The fact of two arrests is not in dispute.
American Fork Citizen; Salt Lake Tribune; Wikipedia; KSL
Mar 11, 2026Confirmed
Second probable-cause affidavit seeks an additional stalking charge. A judge approves a search warrant for the Airbnb where Schneider stayed (affidavit cited an overheard conversation about "possible stolen Lego").
The Express Tribune; American Fork Citizen
Evening Mar 11, 2026Confirmed
Second arrest at the Airbnb; Schneider booked into Utah County Jail. ~4 associates detained, all but Schneider released.
American Fork Citizen; Yahoo/In Touch; Kotaku
(warrant return)Confirmed
Search-warrant return reportedly states "No items seized" — no stolen LEGO recovered.
The Express Tribune
May 21, 2026Confirmed
Schneider publishes "I tracked down the thief who stole $200,000 of LEGO" (reported ~3.1M views in two weeks). Story goes mainstream.
Know Your Meme; Primetimer
May 21, 2026Confirmed
BAM posts first community note on the Salem store situation.
bricksandminifigs.com
Late May 2026Confirmed
"Mormon Mafia" trends; Central Utah 911 reports a call surge (jumped ~157→424 calls in a 6–10am window — ⚠ weekday disputed: ABC4 says Saturday, Dexerto says Sunday May 31; the call figures match across both); unrelated Salem (Utah) PD posts a "zero involvement" disclaimer; AFPD received a wave of negative online reviews referencing the case (a coordinated "review-bomb" is asserted online but not confirmed by reporting).
ABC4; Dexerto; Primetimer
May 26, 2026Allegation
Chrystal Law-Gorman posts publicly (TikTok) alleging the franchisor "illegally seized" her business under threat of police action without compensation.
The Express Tribune; Primetimer
May 27, 2026Confirmed
BAM Franchising et al. file a verified civil complaint in Utah Fourth District Court (case no. unverified — 260402353 vs 260400253) — 13 causes of action.
Dexerto; Brick Fanatics
May 28, 2026Confirmed
A TRO and preliminary-injunction hearing notice is reportedly signed (Judge Tony F. Graf Jr. — ⚠ name from secondary reporting only, not a fetched court doc; the search-warrant judge was separately named Roger W. Griffin). BAM issues a detailed official statement denying theft/wrongdoing.
Brick Fanatics; bricksandminifigs.com
May 29, 2026Confirmed
AFPD releases body-cam footage + news release; Chief Cameron Paul posts a ~26-minute video statement. CEO Ammon McNeff appears in a livestream interview, apologizes to the family, offers mediation.
ABC4; The Express Tribune
~May 30–31, 2026Confirmed
GoFundMe for Mansell surpasses $100K (later reported higher). ⚠ Figures vary by snapshot/source as the total climbed — e.g. ~$128K from ~4,800 donors at one point, $131K+ from ~5,000 at another; anchor any figure to a timestamp. By ~Jun 3–4, 2026 it is reportedly over $300K (donations to be placed in a legal trust). ⚠ The >$300K figure is secondary/single-outlet (Reported, not multi-sourced CONFIRMED); a higher ~$350K–$382K figure is single-sourced and unverified.
The Express Tribune
~Jun 1, 2026Confirmed
Separate AFPD matter surfaces: Det. Bronson Kitchen apologizes to a driver over a contested traffic stop (distinct incident, frequently cited alongside).
American Fork Citizen
~Jun 1–2, 2026Confirmed
Schneider releases a follow-up video on the arrests; says he fled to Mexico citing a new arrest warrant. (⚠ Reporting clusters Jun 1–2; date approximate.)
UNILAD Tech; Kotaku
Jun 4, 2026Confirmed
BAM announces it has "parted ways" with Salem franchise owners Joshua Johnson and Brandon Best — framed as a mutual separation — and is permanently closing the Salem, Oregon store, citing "a devastating social media campaign." Announced via a BusinessWire press release and a company blog post (the closure itself does not drop them as named plaintiffs in the Utah suit).
BusinessWire; Dexerto; ABC4; KSL; bricksandminifigs.com
Jun 4, 2026Allegation
In the same statements BAM (a) says an investigation found "significant evidence of gross negligence" by the previous owner (Chrystal Law-Gorman), framing Best/Johnson as incoming franchisees who inherited the problem; (b) re-values the collection at $95,000–$100,000, calling the ~$200,000 figure "simply the promotional value" used for the Nov 2023 public viewing (the disputed-value framing — keep ~$200K as family/promotional and this as BAM's number); (c) casts the consignment as an "unauthorized and private consignment side-deal" that predated Best/Johnson, struck with former franchisee Law-Gorman. CEO Ammon McNeff says BAM is "prepared to discuss dropping the lawsuit against" Mansell, will review POS data to make him "made whole monetarily," and offers him "whatever Star Wars LEGO was or remains in the Salem store." ⚠ BAM frames this as seeking a "mutual and positive resolution" — no source shows Mansell accepting, the suit being dropped, or a settlement reached; the offer is unilateral and litigation remains pending. ⚠ BAM's "unauthorized / corporate never knew" framing conflicts with Techdirt's Jun 2 report that corporate verbally told Law-Gorman it would "take on the consignment liability."
BusinessWire; Dexerto; Geeks+Gamers; KSL; Techdirt
Ongoing (as of Jun 5, 2026)Confirmed
Keizer (OR) investigation reviewed by Marion County DA; Salem store permanently closed (Jun 4); civil litigation continues with all parties still named; no liability/guilt finding to date.
The Express Tribune; BusinessWire; Yelp listing
Jun 8, 2026 (disputed)Reported
Schneider reportedly scheduled to appear in court. ⚠ Sources conflict: Wikipedia says June 8; KSL & East Idaho News say the next hearing is July 1, 2026.
Wikipedia; KSL; East Idaho News