This article discusses a court ruling in Oklahoma that ordered a Kansas City Chiefs superfan, Xaviar Michael Bubudar, to pay $10.8 million to a former bank teller who was assaulted during a robbery. Bubudar, also known as “ChiefsAholic,” was involved in a series of bank robberies and pleaded guilty to the charges. The judge ordered him to pay the teller, Payton Garcia, $3.6 million for her injuries and loss of income, as well as $7.2 million in punitive damages. Despite the ruling, it is uncertain whether Garcia will ever be able to collect the money from Bubudar.
Garcia’s attorney, Frank Frasier, stated that while it may be difficult to collect the money, the judgment serves as an important message. He emphasized that nobody should be able to profit from such criminal acts, whether it be through notoriety or financial gains. Frasier mentioned that if Bubudar were to profit from his story in the future, Garcia would be able to collect some of the judgment against him. This ruling sets a precedent for similar cases in the future where victims of crimes seek restitution from the perpetrators.
Ed Blau, a criminal defense attorney, explained that it is uncommon for bank tellers to sue robbers due to the assumption that robbers are generally not wealthy. While it may be strategic for Garcia to sue Bubudar for restitution, the likelihood of actually collecting a significant amount from him is slim. Blau highlighted that obtaining a judgment on paper does not guarantee the actual collection of the monetary amount awarded by the court. This raises questions about the practicality and feasibility of such court rulings in cases involving financially unstable criminals.
Bubudar, who is currently imprisoned awaiting formal sentencing, admitted to committing a series of bank robberies in multiple states. He also confessed to laundering the stolen money through casinos and online gambling. As part of his plea agreement, Bubudar must pay at least $532,675 in restitution and forfeit property, including an autographed painting of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes recovered by the FBI. Prior to his arrest, Bubudar was well-known on social media for his enthusiastic support for the Chiefs and frequently attended games dressed as a wolf in the team’s gear.
The case of Bubudar highlights the complexities of seeking restitution from criminals involved in financial crimes. While the court ruling may provide a sense of justice to the victim, the practicality of actually collecting the awarded amount remains uncertain. The judgment against Bubudar sends a message that perpetrators should not profit from their criminal actions, but the reality of enforcing such orders presents challenges. As Bubudar awaits sentencing, the outcome of this case will have implications for future instances where victims seek restitution from the perpetrators of crimes. Despite the legal proceedings, it is unclear if the victim will ever receive the full amount awarded by the court.
