Former coach convicted of molestation charged with fraud

A former girls basketball coach convicted of molesting one of his players has been charged with Social Security fraud for allegedly swiping the identity of a dead infant.

Tony Giles, 52, of Renton, is also being investigated for drug trafficking, according to charging papers filed Friday in U.S. District Court.

Giles was spotlighted in a Seattle Times series called "Coaches Who Prey," an investigative report that was published in December 2003 on coaches who sexually abused female athletes.

According to charging documents, Giles obtained a Social Security card and driver's license using the name of an infant who died in 1960. Prosecutors refer to the false identity with the initials "X.L." He allegedly used that false identity, which charging documents indicate he obtained as early as 1990, to receive unspecified benefits through the Department of Social and Health Services.

Earlier this month, drug investigators served a search warrant at his Renton home. At that time, they found what appeared to be a false ID and forwarded it to federal authorities.

For years, Giles was a well-known basketball coach, working at several area schools, then started his own business, called Players Only, where he trained elite high-school athletes. His coaching years were marred by scandal, but parents nonetheless signed their daughters up.

In 2003 he pleaded guilty to molesting one of his athletes. In 2006, he was sentenced to work release after being convicted of indecent exposure. He is a Level II sex offender.

Seattle Times news researcher Miyoko Wolf contributed to this report.

Maureen O'Hagan: 206-464-2562 or mohagan@seattletimes.com