Seattle man charged with string of burglaries at the homes of NFL and MLB stars
Share this @internewscast.com

SEATTLE (AP) — Charges were brought against a Seattle resident on Friday for a series of burglaries at the residences of notable current and former athletes in football and baseball, highlighting a growing trend of high-profile sports figures being targeted by burglars.

Earl Henderson Riley IV, aged 21, faces multiple charges, including residential burglary of both occupied and vacant homes, as well as first-degree robbery, as stated by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

According to prosecutors, Riley led a burglary operation that commenced in February, which included stealing more than $6,000 of Louis Vuitton bags from Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo’s home and over $194,000 worth of luxury purses and jewelry from the residence of the team’s center fielder Julio Rodriguez.

The thefts also involved taking several watches worth more than $100,000 from former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman’s home and a burglary at the home of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell, who is from Washington, although nothing was stolen in that instance, according to court documents. Prosecutors say there was also an attempted burglary at baseball Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez’s home.

“All people deserve to feel safe in their homes, and our office will continue to hold people accountable for criminal behavior,” King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion said in a statement.

There have been a slew of burglaries at the homes of well-known professional athletes across the U.S. in recent months. The players have been targeted because of the high-end products believed to be in their homes and sometimes the thefts happen when they are away with their teams for road games.

The FBI has warned sports leagues about crime organizations targeting professional athletes. The NFL and NBA have also issued security alerts after burglaries at the homes of such star athletes as Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.

In a memo obtained by The Associated Press in November, the NFL said the homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.”

Riley is being held in the King County Jail on $1 million bail. It was not immediately clear whether he has a lawyer. The King County Department of Public Defense did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press and a spokesperson from the prosecuting attorney’s office did not know whether Riley had a lawyer.

The charges were the result of a monthslong investigation in which the county’s prosecuting attorney’s office worked with six police jurisdictions.

Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Gary Ernsdorff said in a statement that their work is not over.

“We still want to go and identify everybody who was involved and see if there are additional people that we can have sufficient evidence to charge,” he said.

Riley is expected to enter his initial plea in court during his arraignment June 16.

He has another pending case in King County Superior Court in which he is charged with attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle and unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Chicago shooting: 2 men shot, killed during jewelry store armed robbery on West 26th Street in Little Village, police say

Tragic Armed Robbery in Little Village: Two Lives Lost in West 26th Street Jewelry Store Shooting

CHICAGO (WLS) — A tragic armed robbery on Saturday evening resulted in…
Israel warns Hezbollah ‘playing with fire,’ presses Lebanon to act on weapons pledge

Israel Cautions Hezbollah on Escalating Tensions, Urges Lebanon to Honor Weapons Agreement

In light of Hezbollah’s ongoing military build-up and Lebanon’s alleged non-compliance with…
3 Brooks Middle School employees fired over alleged misconduct, Valley View Community Unit School District 365-U says

Breaking: Little Village Shooting Targets Border Patrol Amid Chicago Immigration Operation – DHS Reports

CHICAGO (WLS) — During an immigration operation on Chicago’s Southwest Side, Customs…
'Unforeseen circumstances': Why Jimmy Kimmel's show was postponed Thursday

Unexpected Delay: The Real Reason Behind Jimmy Kimmel’s Show Postponement on Thursday

The taping of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” scheduled for Thursday was unexpectedly canceled,…
Hundreds turn out for emergency food distribution in Jacksonville amid federal shutdown

Large Crowd Gathers for Emergency Food Distribution in Jacksonville During Federal Shutdown

Long lines of vehicles snaked around Regency Square Mall as families in…
Voters’ anger over high electricity bills and data centers loom over 2026 midterms

Rising Electricity Costs and Data Center Concerns Set to Influence 2026 Midterm Elections

Voter frustration over rising living costs is steering the conversation towards next…
UPDATED: Supreme Court Issues Stay in Response to Trump Admin Emergency Appeal of SNAP Case

Supreme Court Halts SNAP Case Amid Trump’s Emergency Appeal: Latest Updates

UPDATE [9:44 PM Eastern]: On Friday night, the U.S. Supreme Court implemented…
Bringing the Cold War back to schools

Reviving Cold War Tactics: Schools Reintroduce Historical Lessons for Modern Education

President Donald Trump has stirred the political pot by labeling New York’s…
UN under fire as USAID investigators probe Hamas diversion of aid to Gaza

UN Scrutinized: USAID Investigates Alleged Hamas Misappropriation of Gaza Aid

As the truce between Israel and Hamas unfolds, the USAID Office of…
'Teacher of the Year' in South Carolina charged after allegedly trying to hit her baby's father with car

South Carolina’s ‘Teacher of the Year’ Arrested for Alleged Car Attack on Child’s Father

A South Carolina teacher who recently earned the prestigious “Teacher of the…
Body of College of Charleston student Owen Tillman Kenney found

Remains of College of Charleston Student Owen Tillman Kenney Discovered

The tragic story of Owen Tillman Kenney, a 19-year-old College of Charleston…
Farmers’ Almanac to end publication after more than 200 years

Farewell to Tradition: Farmers’ Almanac Concludes Over 200 Years of Timeless Agricultural Wisdom

In a poignant announcement, the editors of the Farmers’ Almanac have revealed…