FDLE Report: OPD lieutenant had sexual relationship, took money from prostitute

ORLANDO, Fla. — 9 Investigates a Florida Department of Law Enforcement report into an Orlando police lieutenant who suddenly retired under a cloud of suspicion.

Channel 9 found out Friday he was accused of having a sexual relationship with a prostitute and taking nearly $10,000 from her.

Orlando police started an internal investigation last month, the day after Channel 9 broke the story.

The alleged prostitute, Gricelda Umana, told FDLE she and Lt. Samuel Riggi had sex every two weeks for two years, sometimes at the massage parlor where she worked.

She said he asked her for money and said she made 17 deposits totaling almost $10,000 from her prostitution proceeds into his account to protect her from arrest.

The report shows last fall, Riggi raised suspicians of their relationship and abruptly cut off contact with her.

She was then arrested Dec. 15.

Her charges were later dropped.

She told FDLE she was in love with Riggi and he wanted her to be careful and to erase text messages.

She said they communicated on his MBI phone but there’s no indication FDLE asked for those phone records.

WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer was surprised that wasn’t done, but said what FDLE did uncover could be viewed in two ways.

“Although it looks bad, prostitutes can fall in love just like the rest of us, and certainly if she was in love she would have lent him money,” he said.

Riggi decided to retire last month.

Orlando police are still investigating Riggi's actions.

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