Xaviar Babudar (Photo Credits: Twitter)
Xaviar Babudar, a well-known Kansas City Chiefs superfan also known as ChiefsAholic, has been sentenced to 32 years in prison by an Oklahoma court. The sentence comes more than two years after he was caught fleeing from a bank robbery in the state.
Babudar is already serving 17½ years in federal prison for robbing 11 banks across seven states between 2022 and 2023. The new Oklahoma sentence will run at the same time as his federal term but adds another 14½ years after the federal sentence ends.
District Attorney Wanted Life Sentence
Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said the federal sentence wasn’t enough.
“It was offensive to me,” Kinzweiler said. That a serial robber could victimize as many hardworking Americans as this guy did all across the country and only receive 17½ years from the federal government.
“My preference was for him to serve the rest of his life in prison. He caught another break today, but at least he’s going to be serving some additional time, and my thoughts are with the victims who continue to be tormented by his violence.”
Guilty Plea in Armed Robbery
In March, Babudar pleaded guilty to several charges, including armed robbery, assault while wearing a disguise, and removing his GPS monitor. These charges stem from a robbery on December 16, 2022, at the Tulsa Teachers Credit Union, where he pointed a fake black CO2 pistol at a bank teller and stole $150,000.
He was arrested shortly afterward but released on bond in February 2023. A month later, he cut off his ankle monitor and ran. At the time, he had won $100,000 from bets on the Chiefs.
Multi-State Crime Spree Ends in 2023
After going on the run, Babudar robbed banks in Sparks, Nevada, and El Dorado Hills, California. He was eventually caught by the FBI in California in July 2023. By then, he had become a suspect in several other unsolved bank robberies across the Midwest and in Tennessee.
In 2024, he admitted in federal court to stealing over $800,000 from 11 bank robberies and laundering money through casinos.
Sent to Colorado Supermax Prison
Although Babudar requested a transfer to a federal prison in Illinois, officials instead placed him at the United States Penitentiary Florence ADX in Colorado—a facility people often call the ‘Alcatraz of the Rockies.” He’s been in Tulsa County Jail since January while awaiting the Oklahoma case.
Defense Points to Tough Childhood, Gambling Addiction
Babudar’s lawyers, Brett and Jay-Michael Swab, said he struggled with a gambling addiction and a difficult childhood that left him homeless.
“He’s remorseful and has found faith in Jesus during his time behind bars,” Jay-Michael Swab said.
They also said prosecutors tried to punish him more harshly because of his fame as a superfan.
“They wanted him to die in prison,” Swab said. Our entire position from the beginning is that we want to live in a world where everybody’s treated equally, not based on notoriety or social media presence.”
Victims Still Coping With the Trauma
Frank Frasier, a lawyer representing former bank teller Payton Garcia, said his client had to leave her job because of the trauma.
“She and others believe Babudar deserves the maximum punishment,” Frasier said.
From Stadium Star to Prisoner
Before his arrest, Babudar was one of the most recognizable fans in Kansas City. Wearing a gray wolf costume, he became popular for hyping up crowds, taking pictures with fans, and sharing a flashy lifestyle on social media.
Now, Babudar says he wants to use prison time to turn his life around.
“No one moment defines him,” Brett Swab said. “He’s ready to take responsibility and rebuild.”
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This report used information from ESPN.
