The grandson of tennis legend Bobby Riggs has been arrested by armed FBI agents on charges of child pornography.
Daniel Riggs was arrested by several armed FBI agents while at the Lauderdale Tennis Club in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday, where he works as a coach.
The late, great Bobby was one of America’s greatest men’s tennis players during his prime. Bobby Riggs won Wimbledon and the US Open in 1939 and again in 1941.
Riggs, his 31-year-old grandson, is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl he had been training, according to federal court records.
He now faces charges of enticement of a minor and production of child pornography.
A federal complaint, filed in September, alleges that the South Florida-based tennis coach engaged in sexual conversations with the 15-year-old athlete using Snapchat, a popular social media app.
The complaint also accuses the tennis star’s grandson of soliciting ‘child sexual abuse’ materials from the minor using the social media platform where he allegedly created ‘multiple anonymous profiles and at times advised the minor victim to delete her conversations,’ it said. the United States Attorney’s Office. .
In addition to the inappropriate requests, Riggs was also accused of sexually abusing the minor while they were traveling for national and international tournaments in US states, including Florida, as well as in Brazil.
Daniel Riggs, 31, grandson of the former professional tennis player and tennis coach, was arrested Tuesday by several armed FBI agents inside the Lauderdale Tennis Club in Fort Lauderdale, where he worked as a coach.
A federal complaint, filed in September, alleges that the South Florida-based tennis coach engaged in sexual conversations with the 15-year-old athlete using Snapchat, a popular social media app. Pictured: The Lauderdale Tennis Club in Fort Lauderdale
Riggs began training the teenager in 2020, however, the alleged sexual assault did not begin until October 2021.
According to the federal complaint, the alleged sexual abuse continued until August, just before the victim reported the situation to the FBI in September.
When agents arrived at the posh Fort Lauderdale tennis club on Tuesday, federal agents interviewed several employees, children and their parents who were on the court, the South Florida Solar Sentinel reported.
Riggs was a member of the Cornell University tennis team in 2011 and 2012. In 2014 and 2015, Riggs played tennis for Lynn University in Boca Raton, according to his biographies from the respective universities.
The Riggs family operates their own private tennis training company, Team Riggs Inc., within the Lauderdale Tennis Club, a private club with tennis courts and condominiums.
Team Riggs Inc. rents courts at the facility to operate its exclusive business, the Orlando Sentinel reported. State business records list Riggs as president of the company.
Before turning to coaching, the Florida native has some success of his own, winning a national team title for Florida in 2009. A year later, Riggs won a high school doubles championship, according to biographies on websites used for various university sports programs.
Taking his success to the next level, Riggs was a member of the Cornell University tennis team in 2011 and 2012. In 2014 and 2015, Riggs played tennis for Lynn University in Boca Raton, according to his biographies from the respective universities.
His grandfather, the late great Bobby Riggs (pictured) was one of America’s greatest men’s tennis players during his prime. Bobby Riggs won Wimbledon and the US Open in 1939 and again in 1941.
Bobby Riggs (pictured), 55 at the time, challenged King, 29, with the goal of proving that women were less skilled in the sport, according to a post on King’s website. But he lost the match to King.
Aside from his notable championship successes, Bobby Riggs is also widely recognized for the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match against another tennis icon, Billie Jean King.
Bobby Riggs, 55 at the time, challenged King, 29, with the goal of proving that women were less skilled in the sport, according to a post on King’s website. But he lost the match to King.
Investigators have also revealed additional records on social media that suggest there may have been a second minor victim in the case.
A preventive detention hearing is scheduled for Monday, December 23.