CRIME
Kansas City Chiefs Superfan Pleads Guilty To 11 Bank Robberies Across 7 States
U.S. Attorney's Office
A Kansas City Chiefs superfan known as ChiefsAholic on social media pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges connected to a string of bank robberies and attempted robberies in seven states.
Xaviar Michael Babudar, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering and one count of transporting stolen property across state lines, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Missouri. He also pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery in a connected but separate case filed in Oklahoma.
Babudar admitted engaging in a string of nine bank and credit union robberies and attempted robberies in 2022, along with two more while he was a wanted fugitive. He laundered the stolen money through casinos and online gambling.
“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 todays conviction, he will be held accountable for the full scope of his criminal conduct, including his attempt to flee from justice.”
Babudar could often be seen at football games dressed as a wolf in Chiefs clothing, prosecutors said.
In one of his biggest heists, Babudar stole $303,845 from the West Des Moines, Iowa, branch of First Class Community Credit Union. In several of the robberies, which often involved brandishing what appeared to be a firearm, he made away with amounts over $100,000.
In all, Babudar admitted stealing more than $987,000 from the banks.
When he was arrested in December 2022 shortly after one of the robberies, investigators found betslips for Barstool Sportsbook and FanDuel. Investigators also learned that among his casino transactions, Babudar placed several large bets on the Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes to win Super Bowl LVII at Argosy Casino in Illinois. When the Chiefs won in February 2023, Babudar won $100,000.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Babudar must pay at least $532,675 in restitution to the victim financial institutions, and must forfeit to the government any property involved in his money laundering activity, including an autographed painting of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick L. Mahomes II that was recovered by the FBI.
“While Babudar garnered significant national attention,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen A. Cyrus, “his criminal actions were reckless — intimidating and victimizing bank employees and the institutions themselves. Significant law enforcement resources were utilized across multiple states to locate and arrest Babudar. This would not have occurred without the assistance and due diligence of our local, state, and federal partners.”
Babudar faces up to 50 years in federal prison without parole. His sentencing is scheduled for July 10.
TMX contributed to this article.
