Yankees' Chapman says former financial advisor stole $3M
New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman is estimating that a former financial advisor stole $3 million from him through wire transfers and credit cards secretly opened in his name dating back to October 2016, according to a lawsuit filed in Florida Circuit Court with records obtained by Brendan Kuty of NJ.com.
The lawsuit claims the owner of Pro Management Resources Anthony Chiricosta attempted to cover up embezzlement after Chapman suspected his advisor, Benito Zavala, was stealing from him.
Zavala allegedly used Chapman's money to purchase a home in Valrico, Florida, for $836,000 then transferred the deed to an exotic dancer named Chandler Costa. The lawsuit also claims Zavala bought a Cadillac for $91,765.50, a Jeep, and made $560,000 worth of wire transfers to himself, Costa, and others.
"The facts underlying this matter and Mr. Chapman's claims are set out in detail in his complaint, and he believes it best to litigate these issues in the context of the court proceedings rather than in the media," Chapman's lawyer John J. Rosenberg told Kuty when asked for comment.
Chiricosta and Zavala told Chapman on multiple occasions he was "experiencing significant cash flow problems."
Chapman's career earnings currently exceed $100 million, according to Baseball-Reference.