Topline
Xavier “ChiefsAholic” Babudar, the Kansas City Chiefs superfan that shocked the sports world with his bank robbery charges, was arrested by police in California after a monthslong manhunt, the FBI’s Kansas City office announced Monday.
Xavier Babudar poses for photos while walking toward Empower Field at Mile High before an NFL … [+]
Key Facts
Babudar, a 28-year-old Overland Park, Kansas, man, was taken into custody in Lincoln, California on Friday, and given new charges of bank theft and transporting stolen property, the FBI said.
His capture is the culmination of a four-month-long search that began after he was charged in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, with the armed robbery of the Tulsa Teachers Federal Credit Union on December 16, 2022.
Following Babudar’s arrest in Oklahoma, FBI investigators said they began reviewing bank records, casino transaction records and sensitive financial reporting, leading to the discovery he was also allegedly involved in a string of robberies and attempted robberies in Nebraska, Iowa, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Minnesota and had been laundering stolen money at casinos throughout the Midwest.
According to law enforcement, Babudar was released on bond in February following his arrest, before removing his ankle monitor to flee in late March, commencing his manhunt.
Prior to his arrest, Babudar was a local celebrity in Kansas City who dressed up in a costume mimicking the official KC Wolf mascot, attended every Kansas City Chiefs game and tweeted regularly about his favorite team.
Key Background
Babudar’s story went viral when fellow fans began wondering where he was during the Kansas City Chiefs’ December victory over the Houston Texans. Soon, internet sleuths discovered his newly public dark past, leading to shocking headlines and viral tweets. Popular commentator Pat McAfee nicknamed him the “wolf that jumped bail,” and in March, Jason Kelce, center for the Philadelphia Eagles and brother of Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce, publicly invited the man on Twitter to join him and his brother on their podcast.
Crucial Quote
While the story generated buzz on social media, Babudar’s alleged crimes left a darker impression on the victims. “That day changed my life,” bank teller Payton Garcia said via her attorneys in a statement to local media about Babudar’s robbery of the Oklahoma bank she worked at. “I have never feared for my life like that before.”
Big Number
$70,000. That’s how much money Babudar is accused of stealing in just one of his alleged bank robberies in Clive, Iowa, on March 2, 2022.
Further Reading
After months on the run, ‘Chiefsaholic’ arrested in California. He faces new charges (Kansas City Star)
Self-professed ‘ChiefsAholic’ arrested on federal bank robbery charges (KCTV5)
Chiefs superfan ‘ChiefsAholic’ charged with bank theft after 4 months as fugitive (The Athletic)