A man from New York City who posted Craigslist ads for high-end tickets to professional sporting events has been sentenced to prison, as reported by WBAY.
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 committing wire fraud. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday.
During the sentencing, Senior U.S. District Judge William Griesbach emphasized the importance of deterring the defendant and any others from committing similar acts of serious fraud. He described the crime as a “systemic violation” of those who had dreamed of attending these sporting events rather than an opportunity. Mahtani’s plea for probation was denied by the judge.
As part of his sentencing, Mahtani has been directed to compensate his victims with a total of $88,000. Additionally, he will be under supervision for three years following his release.
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Nikhil S. Mahtani, a 28-year-old New York City resident, appeared in Federal court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to a charge of wire fraud.
Mahtani allegedly posted more than 1,000 advertisements on Craigslist from January 4, 2019, to December 11, 2022, offering high-end tickets and luxury box suites for various professional sporting events across the United States, as per court records.
Mahtani victimized many people in the Eastern District of Wisconsin and beyond 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 showed up at the Fiserv Forum on the night the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Championship in 2021, only to discover that their tickets were invalid. Mahtani’s scheme earned him around $100,000 from victims across the United States, leaving many to suffer the consequences of his fraudulent actions.
Mahtani may face a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Alternatively, he could be fined up to $250,000 and face up to three years on supervised release.
The court is likely to deliver the verdict in May, and the defendant will be sentenced accordingly.
The NYPD Financial Crimes Task Force, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office carried out an investigation on this case. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble is responsible for its prosecution.
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