Accused Individual Faces Charges for Break-Ins at Housing of NFL and MLB Players in Seattle
A 21-year-old Seattle man, Earl Henderson Riley IV, finds himself in hot water following a string of burglaries and robberies targeting current and former professional athletes. This was recently revealed, causing quite the stir in sports circles.
Riley was taken into custody and charged with robbery in the first degree and multiple counts of burglary based on allegations he broke into the homes of notable athletes like Seattle Mariners' stars Luis Castillo and Julio Rodriguez, former Seattle Seahawk Richard Sherman, and Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Blake Snell. Court documents shared with NBC News suggest he made off with designer goods valued at over $300,000, including pricey jewelry and luxury watches[1][2][3].
Authorities paint Riley as the mastermind behind these acts and hint at more individuals being in the crosshairs of the investigation[2][5]. While they cautiously stated that their work isn't done yet, they plan to uncover everyone involved and consider additional charges if possible.
Currently, Riley sits in the King County Jail, held on a $1 million bond. Interestingly, Riley had previously been held and released in February after confessing to three robbery charges[3]. Sadly, it appears he fell back into the wrong crowd again. As of now, it's uncertain whether he's retained legal representation, with his upcoming arraignment set for June 16.
This series of break-ins is part of a larger wave of burglaries that have victimized high-profile athletes in recent months. Back in the latter part of last year, the homes of notable athletes, including Milwaukee Bucks' forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs stars, Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes, were also burglarized. Seven men were arrested and charged in connection with the burglaries, but the exact connection to the Seattle case remains unclear.
In light of the ongoing threat, the NBA and NFL issued warnings to their players about organized burglary rings specifically targeting wealthy athletes and other high-profile individuals[2]. The alarming aspect is the use of advanced techniques like pre-surveillance, drones, signal-jamming devices, and other fancy technology[2].
[1] King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, https://kingcounty.gov/depts/prosectutor/[2] NBC News, https://www.nbcnews.com/[3] Seattle Times, https://www.seattletimes.com/[5] King5 News, https://www.king5.com/
- Earl Henderson Riley IV's wealth from the alleged stolen designer goods that include jewelry and luxury watches is now a topic in general-news discussions.
- Despite being released in February following confessions to three robbery charges, Riley's recent activities involving the burglaries of athletes' homes have resulted in new charges and a higher bond amount.
- The NBA and NFL have issued warnings to their players about the potential threat of specialized crime-and-justice groups specifically targeting wealthy athletes and high-profile individuals due to sophisticated techniques such as pre-surveillance, drones, and signal-jamming devices.
- The string of burglaries affecting notable athletes seems to extend beyond the Seattle case, as similar incidents involved Milwaukee Bucks' forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs players Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes late last year, albeit the exact connection remains unclear.
