Latest news with #Grubbs
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: Ben Grubbs is the Saints Player of Day 66
The Pro Bowl guard didn't miss a snap in his three-year Saints career There are 66 days that remain before the New Orleans Saints start their 59th year of NFL existence and 2025 regular season. Kellen Moore will be the team's new head coach this year as the Saints look to improve on a 5-12 record from a year ago. There are no current New Orleans players wearing No. 66. With that in mind, former standout offensive lineman Ben Grubbs is our choice for Saints Player of the Day. Here's a closer look at Grubbs' background and career. An attendee of Elmore High School in Alabama, Grubbs was a star linebacker and fullback on the football team as well as a basketball standout. He was recruited to Auburn as a defensive end but redshirted in 2002 as he added bulk for a move to the defensive line. During his 2003 season, Grubbs was moved from the defensive side to tight end, where he played sparingly in nine games. Grubbs changed positions again at Auburn, this time kicking inside to guard during the 2004 offseason. The Tigers went undefeated that season, with Grubbs starting all 25 games during 2004 and 2005. Grubbs capped off his Auburn career in 2006 with a first-team All-SEC selection and second-team All-American accolades. It was enough to make him the 29th overall choice in Round 1 of the 2007 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He was the only interior offensive lineman to be drafted in the opening round. Grubbs was instantly a starter on the Ravens front line, earning a spot on the 2007 All-Rookie Team. He'd play five years with the Ravens, playing in 74 of 80 games and making 70 starts. His 2011 season in Baltimore earned him the first Pro Bowl honors of his career. During free agency in 2013, Grubbs was signed by the New Orleans Saints to a five-year contract for $36 million. He played every snap at left guard for New Orleans in 2013, earning his second Pro Bowl in the process. Grubbs remained with the Saints for three seasons. Over that span, he never missed a start or even a single snap while logging over 3,300 offensive plays. During the 2015 offseason, New Orleans traded Grubbs to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a Round 5 draft choice. Grubbs would play the final season of his NFL career that year, starting seven games until a season-ending injury and getting released at the end of the year. Ben Grubbs played a total of 48 regular season games for the Saints. It is the second most for any New Orleans player that has worn the No. 66.
Indianapolis Star
30-06-2025
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Investors fear bankruptcy waiver permitted former Pickleball Rocks CEO to escape prosecution
Ron Ponder doesn't expect to get back the money he invested with Rodney Grubbs, but he still hopes for justice for others who loaned millions of dollars to the disgraced Hoosier pickleball entrepreneur. Ponder, a retiree from Oklahoma who referees pickleball games, met Grubbs in 2017 at an international tournament in Spain. A few years later, after Grubbs pitched him an investment opportunity, Ponder gave him $65,000 over the course of several transactions beginning in 2022. More: 5 things to know about Rodney Grubbs and the fraud accusations involving Pickleball Rocks Grubbs, a resident of Brookville in southeastern Indiana, used a similar approach to solicit other short-term loans: invest $25,000 for 18 months in exchange for 12% monthly interest. In the case of a default, the deal called for Grubbs to repay investors their principle plus 18% interest. The money, he told potential investors, would help expand All About Pickleball LLC, his equipment and apparel business better known as Pickleball Rocks. Drawn in by Grubbs' personable demeanor, his presence on the national pickleball scene and his outward professions of faith, hundreds of people from across the U.S. took the offer. But when the first of Ponder's loans came due, Grubbs didn't pay him back. Ponder soon discovered he wasn't alone. In late 2023, a group of unpaid investors decided to file a lawsuit to force Grubbs into bankruptcy and stop him from soliciting more investors for money. Ponder joined the case. They've now waited more than 18 months to see if they will get any of their money back — and if Grubbs will be criminally charged for operating what they allege was a nationwide Ponzi Scheme. So far, neither has happened, leaving jilted investors frustrated and feeling hopeless. More: Indiana Secretary of State orders pickleball apparel CEO to halt alleged investment scheme Grubbs did not respond to IndyStar inquiries sent via Facebook Messenger. A phone number listed for him no longer works. In court documents, he has denied operating a Ponzi Scheme and defrauding investors — though he has conceded to poor bookkeeping practices. So far, Grubbs hasn't explained what happened to the $47 million he acknowledged owing investors. He also hasn't been charged with any crimes. "It's just not right," says Ponder. "It's not right that he gets to walk free." Investors were temporarily buoyed after federal agents, with assistance from local police in Brookville, raided Grubbs' home in December. The FBI removed a phone, laptop and other personal and business documents. The FBI also opened a portal for victims to submit their information if they wished to be interviewed by federal agents. Some investors hoped the raid would lead to criminal charges, but nearly seven months later a spokesperson for the FBI declined to discuss the status of the case. "It's moved incredibly slow," Ponder said. "You know he's old. He could very very easily die before anything is adjudicated." Ponder said he can deal with not getting his money back. Financially, he is OK, but some unpaid investors are struggling to adjust to losing their financial safety net. Others invested all they had with Grubbs — likely to never see any of their money again. Those are the victims Ponder worries about the most. Many of those investors are retired professionals who played pickleball for fun or to stay active. Some made multiple investments with Grubbs believing they could make money off the increasingly popular sport. Many permitted him to roll over their loans several times, convinced an even bigger guaranteed payment was on the horizon. But as time moves on, Ponder said some investors are giving up and trying to come to terms with their financial losses. "They're like, 'Oh well, yeah, he got us. Gosh, that really sucks,' and then they're going on with their lives," said Ponder, who added he's not sure what his next move will be or whether he'll keep pushing for justice. There was another glimmer of good news for victims in June, when the U.S. Department of Justice issued a press release about the bankruptcy case. It said Grubbs agreed to forever waive his ability to discharge $47 million in unsecured debt through the bankruptcy case. The waiver does not equate to an admission of guilt, but means Grubbs still is legally on the hook for the debt. The statement said the action came after an investigation by the agency's U.S. Trustee Program obtained personal and business records and examined Grubbs under oath. Transcripts of those examinations, which were not conducted in open court, have not been made public. The Justice Department declined to confirm or deny an ongoing investigation. In the meantime, Grubbs assets have been sold off as part of the bankruptcy case to raise money to repay creditors. Roughly $1.2 million was raised from the sale of real estate and pickleball assets, according to court documents. Grubbs' agreement with the trustee left open a door for creditors to pursue payment through other legal means even after the bankruptcy case is closed. That's not good enough to investors who feel victimized by Grubbs. Teri Siewert of Florida pressured Grubbs to repay her before the bankruptcy case and led the charge to stop him from seeking new investors. Siewert also is part of the original group of investors who successfully forced Grubbs into bankruptcy. Now, she is focusing on finding alternative options to hold him accountable, such as asking Case Western Reserve Law School in Cleveland to provide pro bono legal help to elderly people allegedly defrauded by Grubbs. Siewert said she started exploring options after learning from her attorney, Matt Foster, that the U.S. Attorney is not likely not charge Grubbs with any federal crime. Foster could not be reached for comment. Meanwhile, Wayne Greeson, an attorney who also loaned Grubbs money and is representing several other claimants, said he has not received an update on the federal investigation and is unsure about its status. Siewert fears the waiver was a back door that permitted Grubbs to escape criminal prosecution. "How is that even remotely in the public's interest? The victims are left with no faith in the justice system," she said via text message to IndyStar. "Seems all that matters is money. Since there's no money to be had — justice is denied the victim. No restitution is possible since no criminal charges were adjudicated. Travesty." While hundreds of creditors wait for repayment, the bankruptcy trustee assigned to oversee case has reached a settlement agreement with Grubbs' sons and their wives. The family members had sought to recoup more than $1.2 million they claimed Grubbs owed them and joined the bankruptcy cases as creditors. Zack and Amy Grubbs filed a claim totaling $964,706. Josh and Abby Grubbs filed a claim nearly $250,000. Trustee Joanne Friedmeyer objected to the claims. According to a filing submitted by Friedmeyer, Grubbs paid his sons and daughter-in-laws a salary and reimbursements in exchange for their work marketing and selling Pickleball Rocks products. "Based on records obtained from FCN Bank via subpoena," she wrote, "it appears that the transfers were made in the ordinary course of business ... and in exchange for reasonably equivalent value in the form of the labor of claimants." Grubbs sons and their wives signed the agreement without admitting or denying any responsibility for liability, but with the understanding they would file no other claims against the estate. James O'Connor, the Fort Wayne attorney who represents the sons and their wives, declined to comment on why they entered into the agreement with the trustee. He called the matter a sensitive issue wrapped in a sad family dynamic. "It's just no one else's business," O'Connor said.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Grubbs dealership expands with new Hyundai building
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — The Grubbs Dealership family celebrated the opening of their new Hyundai building in Wichita Falls on Thursday, June 12. The dealership celebrated the completion of its new building on Central East Freeway with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, refreshments, live music, tours of the new facility, and gift bags for the first 100 attendees. According to George Grubbs III, the president and CEO of Grubbs, the celebration was not only about the new location, but also about being part of the community in Wichita Falls. Grubbs said seeing how many people showed up to the event was exciting and welcomed them to town. 'My family's been in the car business for 77 years,' Grubbs said. 'I'm fourth generation. We plan to be in this business for multiple generations beyond my own. We hope to bring what we've brought over the last seven years. Seven years is just a high level of customer service. And, you know, we know that we can serve this town well.' According to Grubbs, the previous Hyundai service department was with GMC, and now that Hyundai has its shop, they'll be able to service more Hyundais for those in the community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bankruptcy trustee seeks return of payments Pickleball Rocks founder sent pre-bankruptcy
As he was faced with a growing chorus of complaints from unpaid investors, embattled Indiana pickleball entrepreneur Rodney Grubbs wired money to a select group of creditors in late 2023. From October through December that year, Grubbs sent payments totaling more than $80,000 to assuage investors in Indiana, Ohio, Florida and North Carolina. Now, the trustee overseeing Grubbs' federal bankruptcy case is attempting to claw back that money to help repay other investors who claim they are owed millions from the Brookville businessman. More: 5 things to know about Rodney Grubbs and the fraud accusations involving Pickleball Rocks In recent proceedings in federal court in Indianapolis, an attorney representing trustee Joanne Friedmeyer told the judge she tried to get several individuals to return money Grubbs had sent them in 2023 to settle debts. Still, the recipients have refused to give the money back to the bankrupt estate despite written demand. Investors from across the U.S. have accused Grubbs of operating a Ponzi Scheme, an accusation he's denied in court. He's accused of bilking hundreds of pickleball and real estate investors out of an estimated $57 million — the vast majority obtained from unsecured creditors he encountered traveling to pickleball tournaments around the country. Grubbs allegedly lured them with an exciting opportunity to secure the last remaining spot in a small circle of investors for Pickleball Rocks, his Indiana-based equipment and apparel company, in exchange for investments of $25,000 or more. Their money, he pledged, would help the business grow and fulfill bigger contracts. Grubbs issued investors unsecured promissory notes paying a 12% interest rate compounded monthly, with lump sum repayments after 18 months. Investors also were to received an 18% return if he defaulted. There was just one problem: Many said they never got their money back. In some cases, Grubbs would roll over promissory notes with continued promises to repay investors even greater dividends. However, just weeks before frustrated investors pushed Grubbs into involuntary bankruptcy, he sent $25,000 to an Ohio man on Oct. 27, 2023, and $13,792 to a Zionsville man on Nov. 28, 2023. Grubbs also sent $16,750 to a North Carolina man on Dec. 6, 2023, and made three wire transfers totaling $25,000 to a Florida man in October, November and December of that year. A fifth individual and the estate of a sixth person who received payments from Grubbs in late 2023 agreed to return the money they received, opting instead to settle for smaller amounts. The individuals who received payments from Grubbs declined to speak with IndyStar about the trustee's attempt to get back the money or did not return phone calls. Grubbs, who could not be reached for comment, made all of the payments within the 90-day period leading up to the bankruptcy filing. Friedmeyer, the trustee, claims in court documents that the transfers resulted in the individuals receiving more than they would have gotten from the Chapter 7 bankruptcy case. Neither she nor her attorney Joseph Mulvey responded to requests for comment. Alvin Velazquez, an associate law professor at Indiana University's Maurer School of Law, said bankruptcy law is typically skeptical of anything that happens during the roughly 3-month period before a business goes belly up. "When a trustee is appointed, they have to look at all of the claims and the code allows them to claw back money that was paid out 90 days before — unless the court finds that it was a typical commercial transfer," said Velazquez, who teaches classes on corporations, labor law and bankruptcy. More: 5 things to know about Rodney Grubbs and the fraud accusations involving Pickleball Rocks To the average person, this might seem unfair. But the professor, who said he has not reviewed Grubbs' case, said this part of bankruptcy law serves a purpose. "The trustee has a duty to all creditors," he said speaking generally. "It's making sure the debtor isn't preferring his uncle, his brother, his family over other legitimate creditors. " Grubbs' bankruptcy case now has 335 creditors, mostly represented by attorney Matt Foster. Several banks have also submitted claims. According to court documents, he was in debt to all of the individuals who are being asked to return money. More: Meet the attorney behind the hundreds of pickleball investors who gave money to Rodney Grubbs The attorney for Friedmeyer, however, writes the transfers were made at a time when Grubbs had more debt than assets. The trustee discovered the payments via an examination of Grubb's Statement of Financial Affairs and documents from FCN Bank obtained by a subpoena. The far-reaching case has dragged on for more than a year and half. Fed up and realizing they had been promised the same investment opportunity, a handful of investors sued to force Grubbs into bankruptcy and stop him from issuing new promissory notes. Hundreds of others also joined the case seeking repayment, including his own children. Agents from the FBI raided his Brookville home last December. Grubbs has not been charged with a crime. Last week, in a roughly 7-minute hearing, he waived the ability to do away with his debts when the Chapter 7 bankruptcy is concluded, meaning he's still on the hook to investors. The judge in that hearing said they can now pursue him outside of the bankruptcy court if they wish. Contact IndyStar investigative reporter Alexandria Burris at aburris@ Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @allyburris. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Trustee seeks return of money Pickleball Rocks founder sent to creditors
Indianapolis Star
28-05-2025
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Bankruptcy trustee seeks return of payments Pickleball Rocks founder sent pre-bankruptcy
As he was faced with a growing chorus of complaints from unpaid investors, embattled Indiana pickleball entrepreneur Rodney Grubbs wired money to a select group of creditors in late 2023. From October through December that year, Grubbs sent payments totaling more than $80,000 to assuage investors in Indiana, Ohio, Florida and North Carolina. Now, the trustee overseeing Grubbs' federal bankruptcy case is attempting to claw back that money to help repay other investors who claim they are owed millions from the Brookville businessman. More: 5 things to know about Rodney Grubbs and the fraud accusations involving Pickleball Rocks In recent proceedings in federal court in Indianapolis, an attorney representing trustee Joanne Friedmeyer told the judge she tried to get several individuals to return money Grubbs had sent them in 2023 to settle debts. Still, the recipients have refused to give the money back to the bankrupt estate despite written demand. Investors from across the U.S. have accused Grubbs of operating a Ponzi Scheme, an accusation he's denied in court. He's accused of bilking hundreds of pickleball and real estate investors out of an estimated $57 million — the vast majority obtained from unsecured creditors he encountered traveling to pickleball tournaments around the country. Grubbs allegedly lured them with an exciting opportunity to secure the last remaining spot in a small circle of investors for Pickleball Rocks, his Indiana-based equipment and apparel company, in exchange for investments of $25,000 or more. Their money, he pledged, would help the business grow and fulfill bigger contracts. Grubbs issued investors unsecured promissory notes paying a 12% interest rate compounded monthly, with lump sum repayments after 18 months. Investors also were to received an 18% return if he defaulted. There was just one problem: Many said they never got their money back. In some cases, Grubbs would roll over promissory notes with continued promises to repay investors even greater dividends. However, just weeks before frustrated investors pushed Grubbs into involuntary bankruptcy, he sent $25,000 to an Ohio man on Oct. 27, 2023, and $13,792 to a Zionsville man on Nov. 28, 2023. Grubbs also sent $16,750 to a North Carolina man on Dec. 6, 2023, and made three wire transfers totaling $25,000 to a Florida man in October, November and December of that year. A fifth individual and the estate of a sixth person who received payments from Grubbs in late 2023 agreed to return the money they received, opting instead to settle for smaller amounts. The individuals who received payments from Grubbs declined to speak with IndyStar about the trustee's attempt to get back the money or did not return phone calls. Grubbs, who could not be reached for comment, made all of the payments within the 90-day period leading up to the bankruptcy filing. Friedmeyer, the trustee, claims in court documents that the transfers resulted in the individuals receiving more than they would have gotten from the Chapter 7 bankruptcy case. Neither she nor her attorney Joseph Mulvey responded to requests for comment. Alvin Velazquez, an associate law professor at Indiana University's Maurer School of Law, said bankruptcy law is typically skeptical of anything that happens during the roughly 3-month period before a business goes belly up. "When a trustee is appointed, they have to look at all of the claims and the code allows them to claw back money that was paid out 90 days before — unless the court finds that it was a typical commercial transfer," said Velazquez, who teaches classes on corporations, labor law and bankruptcy. More: 5 things to know about Rodney Grubbs and the fraud accusations involving Pickleball Rocks To the average person, this might seem unfair. But the professor, who said he has not reviewed Grubbs' case, said this part of bankruptcy law serves a purpose. "The trustee has a duty to all creditors," he said speaking generally. "It's making sure the debtor isn't preferring his uncle, his brother, his family over other legitimate creditors. " Grubbs' bankruptcy case now has 335 creditors, mostly represented by attorney Matt Foster. Several banks have also submitted claims. According to court documents, he was in debt to all of the individuals who are being asked to return money. More: Meet the attorney behind the hundreds of pickleball investors who gave money to Rodney Grubbs The attorney for Friedmeyer, however, writes the transfers were made at a time when Grubbs had more debt than assets. The trustee discovered the payments via an examination of Grubb's Statement of Financial Affairs and documents from FCN Bank obtained by a subpoena. The far-reaching case has dragged on for more than a year and half. Fed up and realizing they had been promised the same investment opportunity, a handful of investors sued to force Grubbs into bankruptcy and stop him from issuing new promissory notes. Hundreds of others also joined the case seeking repayment, including his own children. Agents from the FBI raided his Brookville home last December. Grubbs has not been charged with a crime. Last week, in a roughly 7-minute hearing, he waived the ability to do away with his debts when the Chapter 7 bankruptcy is concluded, meaning he's still on the hook to investors. The judge in that hearing said they can now pursue him outside of the bankruptcy court if they wish.
