Pickleball Ponzi Scheme’s Victim Reveals Her Story: A week after FBI agents raided the home of Rodney Grubbs, a former pickleball business owner accused of defrauding hundreds, one of his former investors is sharing her experience. Teri Siewert, who invested $25,000 in Grubbs’ company, revealed her journey from trust to betrayal, shedding light on the broader allegations surrounding him.
Trust and Deception
Teri Siewert and her husband, avid pickleball players from The Villages, Florida, met Rodney Grubbs at a tournament in Athens, Georgia, several years ago. Grubbs, the former owner of “Pickleball Rocks,” cultivated a reputation as a credible figure in the pickleball community, presenting himself as a trustworthy Christian family man.
“We just thought he was this great Christian family man. That’s how he presented himself. I’ve come to know that’s a persona and not who he really is.” – (Siewert)
In 2019, Grubbs invited the Siewerts to invest in his apparel company, pitching an ambitious vision for expanding the business and promoting pickleball in schools. His promises of growth, coupled with a PowerPoint presentation, convinced the couple to invest $25,000, with an agreement to earn 12% interest.
“This was his big pitch — ‘I’ve hired Kevin Lindley from Reebok, he’s going into the schools, we’re growing pickleball,’ and this appealed to a lot of people.” – (Siewert)
Red Flags Emerge
By 2020, the promised returns failed to materialize. Despite repeated attempts to contact Grubbs, the Siewerts were met with excuses and delays. Matters came to a head at a pickleball tournament in 2022 when Siewert encountered Grubbs actively soliciting another investor.
“I’m walking down the thoroughfare and he’s literally soliciting a person in front of me. I hear ‘12% interest,’ you know, oh my god and I stepped between them.” – (Siewert)
Siewert shared that their efforts to recover their funds gained traction after they posted about their ordeal on social media. Other investors, many with similar grievances, reached out to them, revealing a pattern of alleged deceit.
“The lady I tried to warn, I said, ‘Please don’t do this. We’ve been trying to get our money for three years now, and she goes, ‘I think you’re being highly inappropriate here,’ and he’s laughing out loud behind me like this is the funniest thing that he’s ever heard. It was very bizarre it was very concerning. At some point, I just had to confront him, I said, ‘I think you’re a conman.'” – (Siewert)
Legal Actions and Fallout
In January, Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales issued a cease-and-desist order against Grubbs for an alleged fraudulent investment scheme under the company name All About Pickleball LLC, also known as “Pickleball Rocks.”
“to stop an alleged fraudulent investment scheme concerning a pickleball apparel and equipment company All About Pickleball LLC., also known as ‘Pickleball Rocks.'” – (Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales)
The petition accused Grubbs of using promissory notes with high interest rates and severe penalties to solicit funds, primarily targeting individuals at pickleball tournaments.
As of last Wednesday, the FBI’s investigation included a search of Grubbs’ home in Brookville. Federal bankruptcy records also indicate that Grubbs owes nearly $47 million to investors across the United States.
A Call for Accountability
Siewert emphasized the importance of speaking out to protect others.
“Somebody does somebody wrong, it’s not so much about me at that point it’s about what could happen to someone else and I am not going to sit by and let them be hurt.” – (Siewert)
As the investigation continues, the FBI urges anyone who may have been affected by Grubbs’ alleged scheme to come forward.
News in Brief: Pickleball Ponzi Scheme’s Victim Reveals Her Story
Rodney Grubbs, former owner of “Pickleball Rocks,” faces allegations of defrauding investors in a pickleball apparel business. Among the victims is Teri Siewert, who shared her story after investing $25,000. Grubbs allegedly pitched investments at tournaments, promising high returns but leaving many unpaid.
A January cease-and-desist order accused Grubbs of fraudulent practices, and federal bankruptcy records reveal he owes nearly $47 million. The FBI continues its investigation and encourages victims to come forward.
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