Chiefs superfan pleads guilty to bank robbery, money laundering

Kansas City Chiefs superfan Xavier Babudar, better known as "ChiefsAholic," pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to charges stemming from 11 robberies or attempted robberies that occurred across seven states.

Babudar pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering, one count of transporting stolen property across state lines, and one count of bank robbery, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri.

The 29-year-old also admitted to engaging in a string of nine other bank and credit union robberies or attempted robberies, as well as two bank robberies committed while he was on the run from authorities in 2023.

"His violent crime spree across the Midwest and beyond traumatized bank employees and victimized financial institutions in seven states," U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore said. "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."

As part of his plea agreement, Babudar must pay a minimum of $532,675 in restitution and forfeit any property involved in his money laundering activity to the government, including an autographed painting of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Babudar was initially arrested in December 2022 in connection with an armed robbery at the Tulsa Teachers Credit Union in Bixby, Oklahoma. He was released on bond but allegedly cut off his ankle monitor and was on the run for four months before he was eventually arrested in California.

He's scheduled to appear in court for a sentencing hearing on July 10. Babudar faces up to 50 years in prison without parole.