Nevada officials reportedly accused Floyd Mayweather of theft and “intent to defraud” by issuing a bad check to purchase a $200,000 watch to a resale boutique.
Nevada court records indicated the legendary boxer is facing two felony charges, “theft, value $100,000 or greater” and “draw or pass check with intent to defraud, value $1,200 or greater,” according to ESPN. Clark County prosecutors alleged Mayweather issued a $200,000 Wells Fargo check to the Las Vegas entity Gold and Beyond on Dec. 31, 2024. He allegedly “had insufficient money, property, or credit” to fully cover his purchase. A copy of the receipt for an Audemars Piguet watch reportedly bought on Dec. 25, 2024, was obtained by the outlet.
Mayweather allegedly wrote the check “in exchange for obtaining property or services” while “knowing that the check would not be paid when presented.” He did so “knowingly, feloniously, and without lawful authority,” according to the court records.
If convicted on the fraud charge, Mayweather may spend up to four years behind bars, according to ESPN. Felony theft convictions in Nevada carry prison terms of up to 20 years behind bars.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 28: Floyd Mayweather Jr. attends a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena on December 28, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Prosecutors reportedly submitted the original criminal complaint April 27 which was followed by a court order that the legendary boxer appear at court.
Mayweather’s legal team represented him in Clark County court Monday.
Marc Cook, a lawyer for Cook & Kelesis, which represents Gold and Beyond, issued a statement Tuesday to ESPN.
“The reason for the delay is that my guy trusted Mayweather and was trying to give him every opportunity to make good on that,” Cook said.
He continued, “And it got to the point where he wasn’t getting responses and wasn’t getting money for a watch that Mayweather had for well over a year.”
Adrian Lobo, a lawyer for Mayweather, pushed back against the allegations in a statement to ESPN also issued Tuesday.
Lobo asserted that this matter should not be in criminal court. She also said Mayweather had a longstanding business relationship with the proprietor of Gold and Beyond and “had absolutely no intent to defraud” the store.
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 04: Floyd Mayweather Jr. celebrates his unanimous-decision victory over Robert Guerrero in their WBC welterweight title bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 4, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
“This matter does not belong in the criminal courts,” Lobo wrote in the statement. “Mr. Mayweather looks forward to being vindicated through the court proceedings.”
Mayweather does not face any travel stipulations as a result of the case and is set to appear before a judge again Sept. 17, according to an email from Lobo. (RELATED: Luigi Mangione Reportedly Poised To Move Forward With Extreme Emotional Disturbance Defense)
The boxer is reportedly dealing with several financial issues in addition to the latest filing.
The Internal Revenue Service has imposed a tax lien of over $7.2 million against Mayweather for unpaid taxes from the years 2018 and 2023, ESPN reported. He has also filed lawsuits seeking $340 million from Showtime and $175 million from a former business partner, according to court documents obtained by the outlet.
Mayweather is set to fight kickboxer Mike Zambidis in a June 27 event in Athens, Greece. A source close to the boxer told ESPN he retains his passport and intends to go later in the week.