KANSAS City Chiefs star Travis Kelce, the husband of pop superstar Taylor Swift, has been named among the victims of a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of more than $35 million.
Kelce’s name was mentioned by a Missouri prosecutor in court Tuesday as Siddharth Jawahar, 38, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for his role in the investment fraud.
Jawahar, the former head of Texas-based Swiftarc Capital LLC, pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and was ordered to pay $31.35 million in restitution to his victims.
Prosecutors said Jawahar took in more than $35 million from investors between July 2016 and December 2023 but invested only about $10 million. When the underlying investment lost value, he allegedly concealed the losses, falsely told investors their money was generating returns and used funds from new investors to repay earlier investors.
The scheme also financed what prosecutors described as an “extravagant lifestyle,” including private-jet travel, luxury accommodations, expensive dining and memberships at private clubs.
Kelce’s exact investment amount and the amount he may have lost have not been disclosed. Prosecutors also provided no further details about his involvement beyond identifying him as one of the victims.
The 36-year-old NFL star was among several professional athletes linked to investments in Jawahar’s firm. A 2021 Forbes report previously identified Kelce, along with NBA players Gary Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Mason Plumlee, as investors connected to Swiftarc.
The revelation comes during a high-profile period in Kelce’s personal life. The Chiefs tight end recently married Swift in July, adding another major headline to what has already been an eventful year for the NFL star.
But behind the celebrity spotlight, Kelce is now among dozens of investors caught in a financial fraud that prosecutors say involved more than $35 million.
For now, the extent of Kelce’s financial loss remains unknown. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
