Ponzi schemer who defrauded Travis Kelce tried to marry U.S. citizen to avoid deportation, prosecutors say

The undocumented Indian immigrant behind a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme that defrauded Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and other investors tried to marry an American citizen before he was sentenced this week to 11 years in prison, court records show.

Federal prosecutors opposed Siddharth Jawahar’s request to marry Caroline Tredway, saying he may be an attempting “to obtain immigration status in the United States,” according to a Sept. 4 filing in the U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Missouri.

Jawahar’s lawyer, however, insisted his client was not engaging in “marriage fraud” and said Tredway was willing to buy a $25 wedding ring and spend another $75 on an “officiant” to perform the ceremony.

“The truth is, Mr. Jawahar very much hopes to stay here after his sentence and build a life with Caroline, and he plans to pursue any legal avenues to do so,” attorney Doug Passon stated his Sept. 13 response.

Passon also acknowledged both Jawahar and Tredway are aware that “given this case and his current immigration status, his ability to remain here is highly unlikely.”

The revelations came two days after the 38-year-old Indian national, who pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/sports