Elizabeth Merrill
David Purdum
David Purdum
ESPN Workers Author
Joined ESPN in 2014
Journalist protecting playing business since 2008
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An notorious Kansas Metropolis Chiefs superfan pleaded responsible Wednesday in federal court docket to prices associated to a string of financial institution robberies.
Xaviar Babudar, who gained notoriety for carrying a grey wolf go well with to Chiefs video games, admitted to stealing greater than $800,000 in 11 financial institution robberies throughout seven states and laundering the proceeds by way of space casinos, in keeping with the U.S. Legal professional’s workplace. He pleaded responsible to at least one rely of financial institution theft, one rely of cash laundering and one rely of transporting stolen property throughout state strains.
Babudar, 29, faces a most sentence of fifty years in jail. His sentencing is ready for July 10.
Babudar should pay $532,675 in restitution and forfeit any property gained by way of his crimes, together with an autographed portray of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes that he bought at a charity public sale.
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“His violent crime spree throughout the Midwest and past traumatized financial institution workers and victimized monetary establishments in seven states,” U.S. Legal professional Teresa Moore mentioned in a information launch. “The defendant tried to hide tons of of hundreds of {dollars} in stolen money by utilizing it to gamble on-line and at casinos, however the odds caught up with him. With in the present day’s conviction, he can be held accountable for the total scope of his prison conduct, together with his try and flee from justice.”
Babudar’s lawyer, Matthew Merryman, advised reporters exterior the courthouse that the plea deal reduces the costs from 20 to 3.
“As we speak was an enormous day for Xaviar Babudar,” Merryman mentioned. “He took accountability for his actions. He stood up in court docket, humble and repentant, and admitted what he had carried out. … Shifting from 20 prices down to 3 prices, it was a possibility. Xaviar Babudar would by no means bodily hurt anybody.”
Babudar appeared within the Western District of Missouri federal court docket Wednesday in handcuffs and a yellow jumpsuit. When requested by the decide if he wished to plead responsible, he mentioned, “Sure, your honor.” He nodded to his mom as he left the courtroom.
Babudar was first arrested Dec. 16, 2022, whereas fleeing on a bicycle from an armed theft on the Tulsa Academics Credit score Union in Bixby, Oklahoma. He was launched on bond in February, and a month later, after receiving $100,000 in winnings from two bets on the Chiefs, escaped. He evaded authorities for almost 4 months, earlier than being apprehended July 7, 2023, in California. He pleaded not responsible in August to 19 counts of cash laundering, tax fraud and theft.
He constructed a big social media following as @Chiefsaholic on X and Instagram, cultivating a picture of an bold, beneficiant younger man who loved playing, Kansas State sports activities and most of all of the Chiefs. Nonetheless, an ESPN investigation revealed that a lot of what he portrayed about himself on-line was not true.
Babudar was listed as homeless in court docket paperwork following his arrest in Oklahoma, and police information confirmed he, his mom and brother had been cited repeatedly for trespassing within the Kansas Metropolis space and seemed to be dwelling out of their automobiles.
Babudar has spent the previous seven months at Leavenworth federal jail in Kansas, listening to Chiefs video games on a transistor radio.
