Current:Home > NewsIndexbit Exchange:Kansas City Chiefs superfan 'ChiefsAholic' pleads guilty to bank robberies -MacroWatch
Indexbit Exchange:Kansas City Chiefs superfan 'ChiefsAholic' pleads guilty to bank robberies
Surpassing View
Date:2025-04-09 10:40:07
The Indexbit Exchangeinfamous Kansas City Chiefs superfan "ChiefsAholic" pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to charges related to a string of bank robberies in seven states, and he could face up to 50 years in prison.
Xaviar Babudar, who was known to don a werewolf costume at Chiefs games and had a large social media presence among fans, admitted to stealing more than $800,000 from bank robberies throughout the Midwest in recent years, and then using the stolen money to place bets on Chiefs games. The 29 year old plead guilty to one count of money laundering, one count of transporting stolen property across state lines and one count of bank robbery.
Babudar faces a prison sentence of up to 50 years without parole. His sentencing is scheduled for July 10.
'ChiefsAholic' charges
The bank robberies Babudar admitted to began in March 2022, and he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in several states that year. After he was Oklahoma in December 2022, he was released on bond in February 2023.
All things Chiefs: Latest Kansas City Chiefs news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.
In June 2022, prior to the start of the 2022 NFL season, prosecutors said Babudar placed $10,000 on two bets at a casino in Illinois, one on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to win Super Bowl 57 MVP, and another one on the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl. After Kansas City defeated Philadelphia, Babudar won $100,000 off the bets he placed and was mailed a check in March 2023. When Babudar received his winnings, he cut off his ankle monitor and fled Oklahoma. He was eventually arrested in Sacramento, California, on July 7.
“His violent crime spree across the Midwest and beyond traumatized bank employees and victimized financial institutions in seven states,” U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore said in a statement. “The defendant tried to conceal hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen cash by using it to gamble online and at casinos, but the odds caught up with him. With today’s conviction, he will be held accountable for the full scope of his criminal conduct, including his attempt to flee from justice.”
As part of the plea agreement, Babudar must pay $532,675 in restitution to the victim financial institutions. He also has to forfeit any property he obtained through money laundering, which includes an autographed painting of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes that he purchased at an auction.
Babudar's attorney, Matthew Merryman, told reporters outside the courthouse that the plea deal reduces the charges from 20 to three, according to ESPN.
"Today was a big day for Xaviar Babudar," Merryman said. "He took responsibility for his actions. He stood up in court, humble and repentant, and admitted what he had done. ... Moving from 20 charges down to three charges, it was an opportunity. Xaviar Babudar would never physically harm anyone."
Officials said Babudar had lived a "nomadic existence" through the Kansas City area prior to his arrest.
veryGood! (8)
Related
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- Florida State QB Jordan Travis cheers on team in hospital after suffering serious injury
- Cheers! Bottle of Scotch whisky sells for a record $2.7 million at auction
- The world’s attention is on Gaza, and Ukrainians worry war fatigue will hurt their cause
- Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
- Q&A: The Hopes—and Challenges—for Blue and Green Hydrogen
- Michigan makes college football history in win over Maryland
- Last of 4 men who escaped from a Georgia jail last month is caught
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- Russian doctors call for release of imprisoned artist who protested Ukraine war
Ranking
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- Ukraine’s troops work to advance on Russian-held side of key river after gaining footholds
- Arkansas man used losing $20 scratch-off ticket to win $500,000 in play-it-again game
- Jordan’s foreign minister offers blistering criticism of Israel as its war on Hamas rages on
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- Author A.S. Byatt, who wrote the best-seller 'Possession,' dies at 87
- White House rejects congressional requests tied to GOP-led House impeachment inquiry against Biden, as special counsel charges appear unlikely
- From soccer infamy to Xbox 'therapy,' what's real and what's not in 'Next Goal Wins'
Recommendation
Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
Florida State QB Jordan Travis cheers on team in hospital after suffering serious injury
Maine and Massachusetts are the last states to keep bans on Sunday hunting. That might soon change
Cheers! Bottle of Scotch whisky sells for a record $2.7 million at auction
2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
A large metal gate falls onto and kills a 9-year-old child at an elementary school
Biden says ‘revitalized Palestinian Authority’ should eventually govern Gaza and the West Bank
Oregon’s first-in-the-nation drug decriminalization law faces growing pushback amid fentanyl crisis