‘ChiefsAholic’ Admits to robbing banks and laundering money through casinos
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Chiefs infamous superfan known as “ChiefsAholic” pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to a string of bank robberies in seven states.
Xaviar Michael Babudar, 29, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to one count of money laundering and one count of transporting stolen property across state lines. He also pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery, which is contained in a separate case filed in the Northern District of Oklahoma.
Babudar also admitted that he robbed two additional banks while he was a fugitive from justice.
Babudar admitted to stealing $70,000 from the Clive, Iowa, branch of Great Western Bank on March 2, 2022. He left behind a black glove and approximately $1,420 in $20 bills in a wooded area near the bank. Investigators later recovered Babudar’s DNA from the black glove. Babudar then carried this money to Missouri, depositing it in two separate transactions into his personal savings account in an attempt to conceal the criminal nature of the proceeds.
He also pleaded guilty to stealing $139,500 from Tulsa Teachers Federal Credit Union in Bixby, Okla. Authorities arrested Babudar in Oklahoma in December 2022, and he bonded out in February 2023.
Read more about the Oklahoma robbery
Months earlier, Babudar had placed two winning bets at the Argosy Casino in Alton, Ill. On June 10, 2022, Babudar bet $5,000 that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes II would win the Most Valuable Player at Super Bowl LVII, which would pay out $45,000 should that occur. Babudar also bet $5,000 that the Kansas City Chiefs would win Super Bowl LVII, which would pay out $55,000 should that occur. When the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl on Feb. 12, 2023, and Mahomes won the Most Valuable Player award, Babudar won $100,000. Argosy Casino mailed Babudar a $100,000 check in early March 2023.
Days after receiving his winnings, he cut his ankle monitor and fled from Oklahoma. According to court documents, Babudar used his gambling winnings to purchase a vehicle in Henderson, Nevada, and evade law enforcement until his arrest in Sacramento on July 7, 2023.
“Babudar walked into a bank in Bixby, Oklahoma, demanded money, and threatened to shoot them if they did not comply.” “Babudar posed a serious danger and risk to the public. I am thankful for the efforts of the Bixby Police Department, the FBI, and federal prosecutors in holding him accountable.”
U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson of the Northern District of Oklahoma.
Babudar faces up to a 50-year federal prison sentence without parole. A sentencing hearing is set for July 10 after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
Babudar must pay at least $532,675 in restitution to the victim’s financial institutions and forfeit any property involved in his money laundering activity, including an autographed painting of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick L. Mahomes II that has been recovered by the FBI.
“His violent crime spree across the Midwest and beyond traumatized bank employees and victimized financial institutions in seven states.”
“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.”U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore
Bank Robberies
First National Bank, $170,860, Omaha, Nebraska
Babudar entered the bank armed with what appeared to be a firearm and ordered bank employees to open their vault. Omaha police officers recovered $163,560 following the theft.
First Class Community Credit Union, $303,845, West Des Moines, Iowa
Babudar brandished what appeared to be a silver and black firearm, jumped over the teller counter, and demanded that the bank employees open the bank vault. After carrying the stolen money back to Missouri, Babudar began laundering this money through area casinos, depositing the cash he received from these casinos into his personal bank account.
Tennessee Credit Union, $125,900, Nashville, Tennessee
Babudar, armed with what appeared to be a black and silver firearm, climbed over the bank teller counter. He pressed the firearm against the teller’s body and demanded that credit union employees take him to the vault. Employees complied with Babudar’s demands, provided him with cash from the teller drawers, and took him to the vault. Babudar told credit union employees that if he was given a dye pack he would “come back and put a bullet in your head.” After Babudar fled on foot, a hat was recovered; investigators extracted DNA from the hat that matched the DNA extracted from Babudar’s glove in a previous robbery. A few days later, Babudar used some of the stolen money to purchase $20,000 in casino chips in multiple transactions from a local casino.
First Interstate Bank, $25,000, Clive, Iowa
Babudar entered the bank carrying what appeared to be a firearm and jumped over the teller counter. He ordered the bank employees, at gunpoint, to open the vault. He fled on foot after the bank employees gave him the cash in the vault. Babudar then carried the stolen money back to Missouri, where he deposited a portion of it into his personal bank account.
Heritage Bank, $1,100, Sparks, Nevada
Babudar entered the bank wearing a beanie, a Covid-19 mask, a blue long-sleeved shirt, khaki pants, and a fanny pack. Babudar showed a note to the Heritage Bank teller that was composed on his cell phone, which demanded money from the teller.
U.S. Bank, $950, El Dorado Hills, California
Babudar entered the bank wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, a COVID-19 mask, and a yellow reflective vest. Babudar showed a note to the U.S. Bank teller that was composed on his cell phone, which demanded money from the teller.
Attempted Robberies
Wings Financial Credit Union, Savage, Minnesota
Babudar entered this credit union with what appeared to be a firearm and demanded that credit union employees open the vault. Babudar fled from the credit union, however, after seeing the vault only held small bills.
Royal Credit Union, Apple Valley, Minnesota
Babudar entered the credit union with what appeared to be a firearm and demanded that credit union employees open the vault. When he saw the vault only contained small bills, Babudar demanded $100 bills. Credit union employees told him they didn’t keep $100 bills in the vault, and Babudar fled on foot.
Pinnacle Bank, Papillon, Nebraska
Babudar entered the vestibule area of Pinnacle Bank and pulled on the doors, but was unable to open them. He then left the area. The next day, he robbed the Tulsa Teachers Federal Credit Union and was arrested.
Babudar, who lived a nomadic existence at various locations around the Kansas City metropolitan area, enjoyed a robust social media presence as Kansas City Chiefs superfan Twitter user @ChiefsAholic, attending most games dressed as a wolf in Chiefs clothing.
