FBI Raids Indiana Home in Pickleball Fraud Scandal

The pickleball community was shaken this week as the FBI raided the Indiana home of Rodney “Rocket” Grubbs, the former owner of Pickleball Rocks, in connection with an alleged $50 million fraud scheme. Grubbs, once a prominent figure in the sport, is accused of defrauding over 300 investors—many of them fellow pickleball enthusiasts—through high-interest promissory notes that funded his business operations. While Grubbs denies intentional wrongdoing, he has admitted to owing $47.5 million and faces accusations of running an unregistered investment scheme.

Grubbs’s investors, who include retirees and families, say they were lured by promises of 12% returns on $25,000 notes. Many claim they were unable to recover their money, with heartbreaking stories emerging, such as an 87-year-old woman who says Grubbs pressured her into using her retirement savings. Though he blames pandemic-related business losses for his downfall, Grubbs’s auction of pickleball inventory earlier this year barely made a dent in the $57 million creditors say they are owed. The Securities Division of Indiana issued a cease and desist order against him for failing to register his investment activities, labeling the scheme as fraudulent.

The FBI’s recent raid underscores the severity of the allegations, though Grubbs has not yet been charged with a crime. Federal agents have called for additional victims to come forward, highlighting the legal rights and potential restitution available to those affected. As the pickleball community grapples with this scandal, it serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in investing, even within seemingly tight-knit, trusted groups. This case continues to unfold, leaving many wondering about the future of those impacted—and the fate of the man at its center.