SEATTLE (AP) — On Friday, a Seattle man was charged with a series of robberies targeting the homes of notable current and former soccer and baseball players, highlighting a troubling trend of athletes being victims of theft.
Earl Henderson IV, 21, faces multiple counts of home invasion and first-degree robbery, affecting both occupied and unoccupied residences, as stated by the Earl County Prosecutor’s office.
Prosecutors allege that Henderson orchestrated a sequence of robberies beginning in February, stealing over $6,000 in Louis Vuitton bags from the home of Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo and more than $194,000 in luxury wallets and jewelry from the residence of center fielder Julio Rodriguez.
The list of stolen items includes several watches valued at over $100,000 from former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman’s house, and a robbery attempt at the home of Washington native and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell. There was also an attempted theft at the residence of Hall of Fame baseball player Edgar Martinez.
“Everyone deserves to feel secure in their homes, and our office is committed to holding individuals accountable for criminal actions,” stated King County prosecutor Lesa Mannion.
In recent months, numerous robberies have been reported at the homes of high-profile professional athletes across the United States, as they are often targeted for their valuable possessions during road games.
The FBI warns sports leagues about criminal organizations that are specifically targeting professional athletes, including members of the NFL and NBA. Security alerts have been issued following robberies at the homes of star athletes such as Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
A memo from the NFL, obtained by the Associated Press in November, indicated that the residences of professional athletes across various sports are increasingly becoming targets for organized and skilled robbery groups.
Henderson is currently held at King County Jail on $1 million bail, though it remains unclear if he has legal representation. The King County Public Defense Department has not yet responded to the Associated Press’s inquiries, and a spokesperson from the prosecutor’s office was unaware of any attorney representing Henderson.
These charges arose from several months of investigation, during which the county prosecutor’s office collaborated with six police departments.
Senior prosecutor Gary Ernsdorf emphasized in a statement that their efforts are ongoing.
“We are still looking to see if there are more individuals who could help us gather additional evidence to identify all those involved and hold them accountable,” he noted.
Henderson is expected to enter his initial plea in court on June 16 following his arrest.
He is also facing another pending case in King County Superior Court, where he has been charged with attempting to evade a pursuing vehicle and illegal possession of a firearm in the first degree.
Source: apnews.com