Xaviar Babudar, aka “Chiefsaholic”, a die-hard Chiefs fan, has been sentenced to 17.5 years in prison for a series of bank robberies

Kansas City Chiefs superfan Xaviar Babudar, aka “Chiefsaholic,” was sentenced Thursday to 17.5 years in prison for multiple convictions related to a 16-month bank robbery spree that began in March 2022.

Judge Howard Sachs of the U.S. District Court in Kansas City Babudar was also ordered to pay $532,675 in restitution to his victims and forfeiting the proceeds of his crimes, which include a signed painting of Patrick Mahomes that he purchased at auction.

Babudar, 30, was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023 on 19 counts, including multiple counts of armed robbery and money laundering. He pleaded guilty in February to one count of bank robbery, one count of money laundering and one count of transporting stolen property across state lines.

As part of the plea deal, Babudar confessed to stealing more than $800,000 from 11 banks and credit unions in seven states, including Iowa, Minnesota, Tennessee, Oklahoma and California. Babudar then laundered the money at casinos, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said Babudar brandished what appeared to be a gun during the robberies.

According to the Kansas City StarTwo bank employees who were victims of Babudar testified or provided written statements at his sentencing hearing.

“Every morning I think about the robbery before I go to work,” one victim wrote in a statement.

“I still have nightmares about my bank being robbed,” another told the court.

Babudar discussed his crimes during the hearing, according to the Star.

“Every day reminds me of the shame I have to bear,” he said.

Before his bank robbery spree came to light, Babudar was a beloved figure among Chiefs fans and on social media. He regularly attended Chiefs games, dressed in a wolf costume in homage to KC Wolf team mascotProsecutors say Babudar used profits from his bank robberies to fund his attendance at Chiefs games and build the “Chiefsaholic” brand.

Babudar was initially arrested in December 2022 in Bixby, Oklahoma, and released on bail to house arrest. Prosecutors say he removed his ankle monitor and proceeded to rob two more banks. He was captured by the FBI near Sacramento, California, after spending nearly three months on the run.

Babudar was originally scheduled to be sentenced on July 10. He was finally sentenced on Thursday, hours before the Chiefs opened the NFL season in a home game against the Baltimore Ravens.