New York City resident pleads guilty to defrauding Wisconsin residents over Milwaukee Bucks tickets

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Nikhil S. Mahtani (28) of New York, New York, was arraigned in federal court and immediately entered a guilty plea to a charge of wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, according to Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

According to court documents, between approximately January 4, 2019, and December 11, 2022, Mahtani placed over 1,000 ads on Craigslist offering high end tickets and luxury box suites to National Football League, National Basketball League, and other professional sporting events around the country.

Numerous victims throughout the Eastern District of Wisconsin and elsewhere were victimized by Mahtani, who accepted thousands of dollars in payments for tickets and suites he knew were not real.

In one instance, a large group of friends and family arrived at the Fiserv Forum the night the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Championship in 2021, only to be turned away and told their tickets were fraudulent. As a result of his scheme, Mahtani received approximately $100,000 from victims in Wisconsin and across the United States.

Mahtani faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment when he sentenced by Senior United States District Court Judge William C. Griesbach on May 10, 2024.

He may also be fined up to $250,000 and could serve up to three years on supervised release.

This case was investigated by the NYPD Financial Crimes Task Force, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.