Immigrant Mastermind Behind Multi-Million Dollar Ponzi Scheme Targeting Travis Kelce Sentenced
Siddharth Jawahar, an illegal immigrant from India, received an 11-year prison sentence for defrauding investors of over $35 million.
The individual orchestrating a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme that included Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce as a victim has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. Siddharth Jawahar, identified as an illegal immigrant from India, was found guilty of wire fraud for his role in operating Swift Art Capital LLC.
Jawahar defrauded investors out of more than $35 million between 2016 and 2023. Prosecutors stated that he invested only about $10 million of the raised funds, using the remainder to finance a lavish personal lifestyle, which included private jet travel, luxury accommodations, fine dining, and exclusive club memberships. He has been ordered to repay $31.35 million in restitution to his victims.
Court documents indicate that Jawahar has been residing in the United States since 2005 and is subject to deportation. Following his indictment in 2023 on charges of wire fraud and investment-adviser fraud, Jawahar reportedly attempted to obstruct justice. The Department of Justice stated that he coached a victim to provide a favorable statement to the FBI while misrepresenting his immigration status and financial situation. He also allegedly tried to have his sister remotely erase data from his iPhone.
Jawahar pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud in January 2026. Among the notable victims named were Kelce, along with NBA players Gary Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Mason Plumlee. The victims were located in Missouri and other states.
Instead of diversifying investor funds, Jawahar predominantly allocated nearly all client capital into a single stock, Philip Morris Pakistan. As this investment declined, Jawahar concealed the losses, provided false financial statements, and used funds from new investors to meet obligations to earlier clients. He managed 17 additional entities that were utilized in the scheme.
An assistant attorney in the DOJ's National Fraud Enforcement Division referred to Jawahar as an "illegal alien fraudster" in a social media post celebrating the sentencing, acknowledging the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri and its partners.