Man Arrested in Seattle for Robberies of Sports Stars
A 21-year-old man from Seattle, Earl Henderson Riley IV, is facing charges for a series of burglaries at the residences of prominent current and retired athletes. The charges include multiple counts of residential burglary, both in occupied and unoccupied homes, as well as first-degree robbery, according to the King County Prosecutor’s Office.
The authorities allege that Riley led a series of robberies that began in February. Among the stolen items are more than $6,000 in Louis Vuitton handbags from the home of Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo, and more than $194,000 in high-end wallets and jewelry from the residence of Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez. In addition, several watches with a value exceeding $100,000 were stolen from the home of former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman. A robbery was also reported at the home of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell, although nothing was taken in that instance.According to court documents, there was also an attempted robbery at the home of Baseball Hall of Fame member Edgar Martinez.
In recent months, a wave of robberies has been observed in the residences of renowned professional athletes across the United States. These athletes have been targeted due to the valuable items they are presumed to keep in their homes, and sometimes, the robberies occur when they are away from home for sporting commitments. The FBI has alerted sports leagues about criminal organizations targeting professional athletes. The NFL and NBA have also issued security alerts following robberies at the homes of stars like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. Riley is being held in King County jail on a $1 million bail. It has not yet been confirmed whether he has legal representation. The charges are the result of a months-long investigation in which the county prosecutor’s office collaborated with six police jurisdictions.All people deserve to feel safe in their homes, and our office will continue to hold people accountable for their criminal behavior.
Leesa Manion, King County Prosecutor
Senior Assistant District Attorney Gary Ernsdorff stated that the investigation is ongoing.
Riley is expected to present his initial statement in court during his hearing on June 16. He also has another pending case in King County Superior Court, in which he is accused of attempting to elude a police vehicle and unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree.We still want to go and identify everyone involved and see if there are additional people for whom we may have sufficient evidence to charge.
Gary Ernsdorff, Senior Deputy Prosecutor
