A man from New York City who posted Craigslist ads selling premium tickets to professional sporting events has been sentenced to prison. The sentence was passed in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
According to the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Gregory Haanstad, Nikhil Mahtani has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for wire fraud.
During the sentencing, Senior U.S. District Judge William Griesbach emphasized the importance of deterring the defendant and others from committing similar fraudulent acts. He deemed the crime as a “systemic violation” against individuals who had high hopes of attending sporting events, rather than an opportunity-based offense. Mahtani’s plea for probation was denied.
The court has directed Mahtani to compensate his victims with $88,000, and he will be under supervision for three years after his release.
Nikhil S. Mahtani, a 28-year-old resident of New York City, pleaded guilty to a wire fraud charge in Federal court on Tuesday during his arraignment.
Court records reveal that Mahtani placed more than 1,000 advertisements on Craigslist from January 4, 2019, to December 11, 2022, promoting high-end tickets and luxury box suites for various professional sporting events across the United States. These events included the National Football League, National Basketball League, and others.
Mahtani victimized several individuals in the Eastern District of Wisconsin and other areas by accepting payments of thousands of dollars for tickets and suites he knew were fake. One particular incident involved a large group of friends and family who were turned away from the Fiserv Forum on the night that the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Championship in 2021 because their tickets were fraudulent. His scheme resulted in him receiving around $100,000 from victims across the United States, including Wisconsin.
If convicted, Mahtani could spend up to 20 years in prison or face a hefty fine of $250,000. Additionally, they may have to serve up to three years on supervised release.
The sentencing is scheduled for May.
The NYPD Financial Crimes Task Force, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office were the agencies that conducted the investigation on this case. The prosecution will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
