Travis Kelce Burned in Illegal Immigrant’s $35M Investment Scam

Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce was among the investors who lost money in a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme that federal prosecutors say collected more than $35 million before collapsing.

Kelce was identified in federal court as a victim of Siddharth Jawahar, a former Texas investment adviser who was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison. Prosecutors identified Jawahar as an illegal immigrant and said he operated the scheme through Swiftarc Capital LLC.

Jawahar previously pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud. A judge also ordered him to pay approximately $31.35 million in restitution to victims of the fraud.

Federal authorities said Jawahar collected more than $35 million from investors between 2016 and 2023, but only about $10 million was actually invested.

Prosecutors said Jawahar eventually placed approximately 99% of his clients’ invested funds into a single company, Philip Morris Pakistan.

After that investment declined in value, authorities said Jawahar concealed the losses and continued providing clients with information suggesting their investments remained profitable.

Investigators also accused Jawahar of accepting money for investments in certain companies that were never actually made. Prosecutors said money from newer investors was then used to make payments to earlier clients, a hallmark of a Ponzi scheme.

Authorities said investor funds were also used to support an expensive lifestyle that included private jet trips, luxury hotels, high-end restaurants, shopping, upscale apartments and private club memberships.

Kelce’s individual financial loss has not been publicly disclosed. Prosecutors emphasized that the NFL star was a victim in the case and has not been accused of wrongdoing.

The investigation also uncovered alleged efforts by Jawahar to obstruct authorities after he was indicted. Prosecutors said he coached a victim about what to tell the FBI, made false statements concerning his immigration status and finances, and attempted to have his sister remotely erase information from his iPhone.

Jawahar’s investment business had faced regulatory problems before the federal prosecution. In 2022, the Texas State Securities Board revoked Swiftarc Capital’s authority to conduct investment activity and ordered Jawahar to stop engaging in fraud.

Despite that order, prosecutors said Jawahar continued accepting investor money. Authorities said one investor gave him another $1 million only weeks after the state action.

The FBI and Manhattan District Attorney’s Office investigated the case. Jawahar will now serve more than a decade in prison while facing an order to repay tens of millions of dollars to his victims, including Kelce.