Travis Kelce Named as Victim in $35 Million Ponzi Scheme

Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce has been identified as one of the victims of a massive investment fraud scheme that prosecutors say took more than $35 million from investors.

Siddharth Jawahar, 38, the founder of Texas-based investment company Swiftarc Capital LLC, was sentenced Tuesday to 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to three counts of wire fraud. He was also ordered to pay $31.35 million in restitution to the victims of the scheme.

Kelce’s name was reportedly mentioned in court during Jawahar’s sentencing as one of the victims. However, prosecutors have not disclosed how much Kelce invested, when he made the investment, or how much money he ultimately lost.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Jawahar’s scheme operated through Swiftarc and related entities. From approximately July 2016 through December 2023, prosecutors say he collected more than $35 million from investors but invested only about $10 million.

Instead of properly investing the remaining funds, Jawahar allegedly used money from new investors to repay earlier investors and finance an extravagant lifestyle.

Prosecutors said that lifestyle included private jet travel, luxury apartments in New York City and Austin, private-club memberships, expensive clothing and high-end restaurant outings.

The DOJ said Jawahar originally began directing client funds into an investment in Philip Morris Pakistan. Over time, approximately 99% of client funds were concentrated in that investment. When its value declined, prosecutors said Jawahar failed to tell investors about the losses and instead represented that their investments were performing successfully.

The case involved 64 victims, according to prosecutors. Kelce was not accused of any wrongdoing and was identified as a victim of the fraud.

The case also included allegations that Jawahar attempted to obstruct the investigation following his indictment. Prosecutors said he attempted to coach a victim before an FBI interview, lied about his immigration status and finances, and asked his sister to remotely wipe his iPhone to destroy potential evidence.

Jawahar pleaded guilty in January 2026 and received his 11-year sentence from U.S. District Judge Zachary M. Bluestone in the Eastern District of Missouri.

As of now, Kelce’s individual financial loss has not been publicly disclosed, and there has been no detailed public statement from Kelce regarding the case.

The sentencing brings a major development in a fraud investigation that prosecutors say left dozens of investors facing significant financial losses while the scheme’s operator used millions of dollars for personal expenses.