A fraudster who bilked investors in a $35M Ponzi scheme, including Travis Kelce, was sentenced to 11 years and faces deportation.
A Texas investment manager who ran a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme that counted Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce among its victims has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison and could face deportation after completing his sentence.
Siddharth Jawahar, 38, pleaded guilty in January to three counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Zachary M. Bluestone sentenced him this week and ordered him to pay $31.35 million in restitution to victims.
Jawahar operated Swiftarc Capital LLC, an investment company that prosecutors say collected more than $35 million from investors between July 2016 and December 2023. Only about $10 million was actually invested, according to the Justice Department.
Travis Kelce named among victims
Kelce was identified in federal court as one of the victims of the scheme. Prosecutors did not disclose how much the NFL star invested or the specific amount he lost.
Kelce was not the only professional athlete connected to the investment operation. Previous reporting has linked NBA players Gary Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Mason Plumlee to Swiftarc-related investments.
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end has not publicly detailed his involvement in the case.
How the Ponzi scheme worked
According to federal prosecutors, Jawahar concentrated approximately 99% of client funds in a single investment, Philip Morris Pakistan.
When the investment declined in value, prosecutors said Jawahar concealed the losses and falsely represented to investors that their money was generating profits.
He also allegedly used money from newer investors to repay earlier investors, a hallmark of a Ponzi scheme.
The remaining funds helped finance an expensive lifestyle, including private-jet travel, luxury apartments in New York and Austin, private-club memberships, shopping and high-end dining, according to the Justice Department.
Jawahar also controlled a number of additional entities that prosecutors said were used as part of the broader operation.
Jawahar’s immigration status
Jawahar, who is originally from India, had been living in the United States without legal status since 2005, according to court documents and federal prosecutors.
The Justice Department said his legal problems extend beyond the fraud conviction. Following his indictment, prosecutors accused Jawahar of attempting to obstruct the investigation by coaching a victim, lying about his immigration status and finances, and attempting to have a relative remotely wipe his phone to conceal evidence.
Prosecutors said Jawahar is expected to face deportation after serving his prison sentence.
Judge orders millions in restitution
Along with the 11-year prison sentence, Judge Bluestone ordered Jawahar to pay $31.35 million in restitution.
The judge cited the scale of the losses and the length of the fraud when imposing the sentence, according to the Justice Department.
Federal prosecutors said Jawahar took advantage of investors’ trust while concealing the losses in the underlying investment.
The case involved 64 victims, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
A case involving high-profile investors
The revelation that Kelce was among the victims has brought renewed attention to the case. The NFL star was publicly identified in court only as a victim, and prosecutors have not disclosed additional details about his investment.
The case also highlights how the investment operation attracted professional athletes and other investors before federal authorities brought the fraud charges.
Jawahar was indicted in 2023 and later pleaded guilty in January 2026. His 11-year federal sentence now puts his criminal case on a lengthy path, while his immigration status could lead to additional proceedings after his incarceration.
For now, the court-ordered restitution remains a central issue for the dozens of investors who prosecutors say lost money in the scheme.
Also read: Trump Fraud Crackdown Gets Major House Boost
