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Kansas City Chiefs superfan ChiefsAholic sent to prison for string of bank robberies

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A federal judge has sentenced the Kansas City Chiefs superfan known as “ChiefsAholic” to more than 17 years in prison for a string of 11 bank robberies across seven states where he stole nearly $850,000 to finance his social media stardom.

Xavier Babudar, 30, learned his fate Thursday — the same day his beloved Chiefs were gearing up for their season opener against the Baltimore Ravens. He’ll spend 17 1/2 years in prison for the bank robberies he admitted to earlier this year.

Babudar developed a following on his @ChiefsAholic account on the social platform X after attending games dressed as a wolf in Chiefs gear. His rabid support of the Chiefs became well known on social media, though he’s nowhere near the team’s most famous fan since Taylor Swift began dating tight end Travis Kelce last year.

“Babudar’s robbery spree bankrolled the expensive tickets and travel across the country to attend Kansas City Chiefs games while he cultivated a large fan base online. However, the bank and credit union employees whom he terrorized at gunpoint suffered the brunt of his true nature,” U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore said in a statement.

Most of the money Babudar stole was never recovered, so the court ordered him to pay over $530,000 in restitution and forfeit anything he used to launder the money, including an autographed painting of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes that the FBI recovered.

But of course he may never be able to repay that much, just as it’s unlikely he’ll pay $10.8 million to an Oklahoma bank teller he terrorized and assaulted with a gun during one of his bank robberies. Prosecutors have said much of the stolen money was laundered through casinos and online gambling.

Babudar robbed banks or attempted to rob banks in Iowa, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Tennessee, Minnesota, Nevada and California in 2022 and 2023. Two of the robberies were committed after he cut off his ankle monitor while out on bond and fled Oklahoma. He even robbed the same bank in Clive, Iowa, twice during 2022, although the bank changed names in the months between the robberies.

When he was arrested the first time in 2022, he had a bag filled with $289,750 in cash, betting slips for $24,000 and bank deposit letters showing that he had put $20,000 and $50,000 into his account earlier that year.

Before the start of the 2022 season, Babudar placed two winning $5,000 bets that the Chiefs would win Super Bowl LVII and Mahomes would be named the game’s Most Valuable Player. He collected a $100,000 check from the Argosy Casino in Illinois before taking off and used some of his winnings to buy a vehicle he used to evade authorities.

He was arrested in Sacramento, California, in July 2023 and has been in federal custody since then.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Prince Harry in Vancouver as Invictus Games school program launches online

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VANCOUVER – Prince Harry is in Vancouver for the launch of a campaign to raise awareness of the Invictus Games among children and youth, one day after surprising Canadian football fans by appearing at the Grey Cup in the city.

The prince visited Vancouver-area elementary and high school students at Seaforth Armoury.

The visit comes as the Invictus Games launches a lessons program for students from kindergarten to Grade 12, making educational resources on the event’s history and purpose available online.

Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games for wounded, injured and sick veterans and other service personnel about a decade ago, and the games will next be held in Vancouver and Whistler in February.

After meeting the students and engaging in a short game of sitting volleyball on the floor of the armoury, Prince Harry told the crowd the school program could help the Invictus Games “go even wider” and “into schools in Canada and hopefully around the world.”

The prince made a surprise appearance at the Grey Cup game at BC Place Stadium on Sunday, waving to the crowd and giving an interview before joining B.C. Lions owner Amar Doman on the field.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Fall storm could bring ‘hurricane force’ winds to B.C.

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VANCOUVER – Environment Canada is warning about an intensifying storm that is expected to bring powerful winds to Vancouver Island and the British Columbia coast this week.

Matt MacDonald, the lead forecaster for the BC Wildfire Service, says models predict “explosive cyclogenesis,” which is also known as a bomb cyclone, materializing Tuesday night.

Such storms are caused by a rapid drop in atmospheric pressure at the centre of a storm system that results in heavy rain and high winds.

MacDonald says in a social media post that B.C. coastal inlets could see “hurricane force” winds of more than 118 km/h and create waves up to nine metres off Washington and Oregon.

Environment Canada posted a special weather statement saying the storm will develop off the coast of Vancouver Island on Tuesday, bringing high winds and heavy rain to some areas starting in the afternoon.

It says the weather system may cause downed trees, travel delays and power outages, adding that peak winds are expected for most areas Tuesday night, though the severe weather is likely to continue into Wednesday.

B.C. has been hit by a series of powerful fall storms, including an atmospheric river that caused flash flooding in Metro Vancouver in mid-October.

A lightning storm overnight and early Monday covered parts of Metro Vancouver in hail.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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CBP Announces New Hours for Border Crossing Locations

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CHAMPLAIN, N.Y. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in collaboration with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), will adjust hours of operation for 38 ports of entry (POEs) along the U.S. northern border, beginning at midnight, Jan. 6, 2025.

This will allow CBP to enhance border security while facilitating legitimate cross-border trade and travel. CBP officers will be deployed to busier ports of entry, enabling the agency to use its resources most effectively for its critical national security and border security missions.

These adjustments formalize current operating hours that have been in effect for more than four years at 13 ports of entry across the northern border, with eight ports of entry expanding hours. A small number of ports will see reduced hours in an effort to continually align resources to operational realities. Travelers who use these affected crossing locations will have other options within a reasonable driving distance.

Importantly, these adjustments have been made in close coordination with CBSA, to ensure aligned operational hours that further enhance the security of both countries.

CBP continually monitors operations, traffic patterns and volume, and analyzes the best use of resources to better serve the traveling public. CBP will remain engaged with local and regional stakeholders, as well as communities to ensure consistent communication and to address concerns.

The vast majority of the 118 northern border ports of entry will continue to operate at existing hours, including many with 24/7 operations. Locate ports of entry and access border wait times here.

The following are the new permanent POE hours of operation for select New York POEs:

  • Chateauguay, NY                 new hours of operation – 6 am to 6 pm
  • Trout River, NY                   new hours of operation – 6 am to 6 pm
  • Rouses Point, NY                 new hours of operation – 8 am to 8 pm
  • Overton Corners, NY            new hours of operation – 6 am to 10 pm

Again, these changes will go into effect beginning at midnight, January 6, 2025.

Below is a listing of each location with the closest border crossing that will remain open 24/7 for appropriate commercial and passenger traffic:

  • Chateauguay, NY –                closest 24/7 port: Fort Covington – 27 miles
  • Trout River, NY –                   closest 24/7 port: Fort Covington – 11 miles
  • Rouses Point, NY –                closest 24/7 port: Champlain – 8 miles
  • Overton Corners, NY –           closest 24/7 port: Champlain – 5 miles

For additional information or to contact a port of entry, please visit CBP.gov.

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @CBPBuffalo and @DFOBuffalo

For more on Customs and Border Protection’s mission at our nation’s ports of entry with CBP officers and along U.S. borders with Border Patrol agents, please visit the Border Security section of the CBP website.

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @CBPBuffalo @DFOBuffalo and @USBPChiefBUN

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