Patrick Maisonet, 29, pleaded not guilty Monday to multiple charges tied to a string of burglaries at Seattle-area homes of celebrities and professional athletes, authorities said. Maisonet has been held on bail totaling more than $2 million since his arrest in August and prosecutors say surveillance images and cellphone data link him to several of the break-ins.
Prosecutors allege Maisonet broke into the homes of high-profile targets, including hip-hop artist Macklemore and baseball Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki, and used pepper spray against people he encountered inside. Some of the precious items taken during the robberies were recovered at a south Seattle jewelry store, police said, including two championship rings belonging to Macklemore that were later identified by investigators.
Police say the alleged break-in at Suzuki’s home occurred on Feb. 9, when Suzuki’s wife was in a bedroom. Court documents say an assailant tried to force through the bedroom door and then reached through the opening and pepper-sprayed her; she was able to bar the door and prevent entry. Macklemore’s home was burglarized on June 7, authorities said, and a 22-year-old nanny inside was pepper-sprayed before fleeing to a neighbor’s house for help.
Investigators used surveillance images and cellphone location records to connect Maisonet from his residence and his grandmother’s house to the homes of robbery victims and to a Seattle jewelry store where some stolen items were recovered, court filings say. Police also allege Maisonet sometimes carried digital frequency jammers that could disable cellphone calls, including attempts to call 911.
Other athletes targeted in the series of burglaries included Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo, whose home was hit twice, and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell, who is from Washington and reported two Rolex watches taken, each valued at about $75,000. Former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman reported a Rolex stolen and posted surveillance images of three people breaking into his house on his birthday in March, writing on social media, "House being robbed at gun point with my family in it isn’t what anyone wants for a birthday gift. Scary situation that my Wife handled masterfully and kept my kids safe."
Authorities earlier arrested another man, identified as Earl Henderson Riley IV, in connection with some of the same break-ins. Riley’s arrest came shortly before the June 7 burglary at Macklemore’s home, and prosecutors say at least one of the incidents involved multiple suspects.
The alleged Seattle break-ins mirror a broader wave of burglaries at the homes of professional athletes nationwide in recent months. Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, have warned sports leagues that organized groups have targeted players’ residences, often when athletes are away on road trips. The NFL and NBA issued security alerts after burglaries at homes of Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce earlier this year; seven people were charged in relation to those incidents in February.
Maionet has pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains in custody pending further proceedings. Prosecutors say the investigation continues as they prepare their case; no verdicts have been reached and the allegations have not been proven in court.