Xaviar Babudar, a prominent Kansas City Chiefs superfan who had been evading law enforcement for four months, was apprehended in California and is now facing charges related to a series of robberies across the Midwest.
According to unsealed court documents, Babudar, 29, has been accused of perpetrating a string of bank robberies and thefts, with authorities estimating the total stolen amount to be over $800,000.
Federal authorities arrested Babudar near Sacramento, and he now faces charges of bank theft and transporting stolen property across state lines for a previously unsolved robbery in Iowa that took place in March 2022.
Additionally, the FBI has connected him to six other unsolved robberies and attempted robberies of banks or credit unions in Iowa, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Nebraska between April and December of 2022.
The arrest of Babudar sheds light on his alleged involvement in a significant crime spree. Authorities believe he purchased and redeemed more than $1 million in chips from various casinos in Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois during the same period.
His cellphone records place him at the locations of the unsolved bank robberies and attempted robberies, providing further evidence against him.
Babudar, who gained notoriety among Chiefs fans as “Chiefsaholic” due to his passionate support for the team, was first arrested on December 16 in Oklahoma for a robbery at the Tulsa Teachers Credit Union.
After pleading not guilty, he was released on bond in February. However, he removed his ankle monitor and disappeared in March, becoming a fugitive.
Payton Garcia, a former teller who was a victim of the December 16 robbery, expressed her relief upon hearing of Babudar’s arrest.
Her attorney, Frank Frasier, stated, “She’s breathing a sigh of relief.” The Tulsa County District Attorney, Steve Kunzweiler, praised the FBI’s efforts and expressed his intention to prosecute Babudar in Tulsa County District Court before pursuing federal charges.
Tulsa-area bondsman Michael Lloyd, who had been searching for Babudar since December, paid an $80,000 bond forfeiture fee just moments before receiving the call from the FBI informing him of the arrest.
An ESPN investigation into Babudar’s background revealed a troubled upbringing and a history of legal troubles, debunking many of the claims he made on social media.
Despite posting screenshots of winning betting slips and expressing a lavish lifestyle, Babudar listed himself as homeless in court documents and had no consistent income since October 2021, according to the FBI affidavit.
Babudar is scheduled to appear in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in Sacramento, where a federal grand jury will hear the case. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison for each of the two federal charges against him.