COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has initiated legal action against a Brecksville-based online seller, alleging the businessman accepted thousands of dollars from collectors for model trains that were never delivered.
The lawsuit, filed in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, names Chase D. Wheeler and his business, Chase’s Train Garage, as defendants. According to state investigators, Wheeler utilized social media and various online marketplaces to advertise limited-edition collectible trains for preorder.
“This guy’s sales practices went off the rails,” Attorney General Yost said in a statement. “Cheating customers out of what they pay for isn’t the way business is done in Ohio.”
Breach of Trust in the Hobbyist Community
The Attorney General’s office alleges that Wheeler specifically targeted collectors seeking high-end models manufactured by Broadway Limited Imports. Consumers reportedly paid for the items in full, under the impression that their orders would ship as soon as the manufacturer released them.
However, the lawsuit claims that Wheeler failed to actually purchase the stock from the manufacturer. Because no payment was sent to Broadway Limited Imports, the products were never shipped to consumers, and Wheeler allegedly refused to provide refunds for the missing merchandise.
Legal Recourse for Ohio Consumers
The state began receiving formal complaints regarding Chase’s Train Garage in August 2025. The lawsuit cites multiple violations of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act and seeks several forms of relief:
- Restitution: Full repayment for all affected consumers.
- Injunctive Relief: Court orders to prevent Wheeler from continuing deceptive business practices.
- Civil Penalties: Financial fines for the alleged violations.
Are you an affected consumer? The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is encouraging anyone who paid for products from Chase D. Wheeler or Chase’s Train Garage and did not receive them to file a formal complaint.
- Website:OhioProtects.org
- Phone: 800-282-0515
