Title: Chiefs Superfan Turned Bank Robber and Money Launderer Faces Up to 50 Years in Prison
The thrilling world of the National Football League (NFL) and its devoted fanbase often makes headlines for extraordinary displays of team spirit. However, the recent case of Xaviar Michael Babudar, a Kansas City Chiefs enthusiast infamously known as ChiefsAholic, has taken an unexpected turn that transcends the realm of sports fandom. On March 29, 2023, Babudar, a 29-year-old man from Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty to federal bank robbery and other related charges in connection with an intricate web of thefts, money laundering, and evasion of law enforcement across seven states.
Babudar’s criminal activities began with a string of brazen bank robberies and attempted robberies that occurred between 2022 and 2023. He carried out these crimes while wearing a wolf mask and Chiefs clothing, in an attempt to blend into the crowd as an ardent fan celebrating his team. Babudar’s criminal spree involved robbing and attempting to rob financial institutions in Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Oklahoma, and other states. Some of these robberies occurred at gunpoint, causing significant trauma and distress for bank employees.
Once Babudar had amassed a substantial amount of stolen cash, he sought to launder the proceeds by using them to gamble contact and at casinos. Hoping to evade detection, Babudar believed his luck would hold out. However, the odds soon caught up with him.
Babudar’s first known bank robbery took place in March 2022 at a financial institution in Iowa, where he handed the teller a note demanding money and falsely implied the presence of a firearm. He later robbed a bank in Nebraska while brandishing an actual firearm, further escalating the danger posed to innocent bystanders.
In June 2022, Babudar placed two bets at an Illinois casino, worth $5,000 each. The first wager was on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at Super Bowl LVII, which paid out a substantial $45,000. The second bet was on the Chiefs themselves winning that year’s Super Bowl, earning Babudar an impressive $55,000 payout.
Having succeeded in his illicit gambling endeavors, Babudar continued to steal from financial institutions across several states. Eventually, he was arrested in December 2022 for robbing an Oklahoma credit union. Despite being released on bond a month later, Babudar’s criminal activities did not cease. Instead, they intensified.
In January 2023, the Illinois casino sent Babudar a $100,000 check as payment for his Super Bowl winnings. Seizing this opportunity to evade law enforcement, Babudar cut off his ankle monitoring device and fled the scene. He used his Super Bowl payouts to purchase a vehicle and further elude capture, all while continuing to rob banks.
Babudar’s violent crime spree across the Midwest and beyond left countless bank employees traumatized and financial institutions victimized in seven states. He now faces up to 50 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole under his plea agreement, which goes into effect on July 10, 2023. Babudar must also pay restitution of at least $532,675 to the victim financial institutions and forfeit any property involved in his money laundering activities. Among the seized assets is an autographed painting of Patrick Mahomes II, which has been recovered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The story of ChiefsAholic serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences that can result from criminal activities, even those driven by an intense passion for sports. The events that unfolded during Babudar’s crime spree demonstrate the importance of upholding the law and respecting the safety and well-being of others.
