The boxing legend is accused of passing a bad $200,000 check to a Las Vegas boutique
Floyd Mayweather, one of the most celebrated boxers in the history of the sport, is now facing two felony charges in Nevada after allegedly passing a bad check to purchase a $200,000 watch from a high-end Las Vegas resale boutique. Court records obtained by ESPN show that Clark County prosecutors filed an initial criminal complaint against Mayweather on April 27, with the charges formally listed as theft with a value of $100,000 or greater, and drawing or passing a check with intent to defraud with a value of $1,200 or greater.
Mayweather was not present for a Clark County court hearing on Monday and was instead represented by his legal counsel, whose appearance fulfilled a court order that had been issued three days after the complaint was filed.
What the complaint alleges
According to the criminal complaint, Mayweather wrote a $200,000 check drawn from a Wells Fargo Bank account to Gold and Beyond, a high-end Las Vegas resale boutique, on December 31, 2024. The complaint alleges that at the time the check was written, Mayweather had insufficient funds, property or credit in the account to cover the full amount. ESPN also obtained a copy of the receipt for the Audemars Piguet watch that was purchased on December 25, 2024, suggesting the check was written six days after the watch changed hands.
The theft charge specifically alleges that Mayweather wrote the check in exchange for obtaining property or services while knowing it would not be honored when presented, and that he did so knowingly, feloniously and without lawful authority.
The boutique owner gave Mayweather every chance to make it right
Marc Cook, an attorney representing Gold and Beyond, told ESPN on Tuesday that his client filed the complaint with the Clark County District Attorney’s office in February, several weeks after the December incident. The delay between the alleged offense and the formal complaint was deliberate. Cook explained that the boutique owner trusted Mayweather and wanted to give him every possible opportunity to resolve the matter before escalating it legally. Over time, however, the shop owner stopped receiving responses and was left without payment for a watch that Mayweather had already had in his possession for well over a year.
Cook said his client explored every available avenue to recover the money before concluding there was no other option. Neither Mayweather’s attorney nor the Clark County District Attorney’s office were immediately available for comment.
The potential consequences are severe
If convicted on the fraud charge alone, Mayweather could face between one and four years in prison along with a fine of up to $5,000 plus restitution costs under Nevada state law. The felony theft charge carries significantly heavier penalties, with prison terms ranging from one to 20 years and fines of up to $15,000. Together, the two charges represent a genuinely serious legal situation for the 49 year old former champion.
A growing list of legal and financial troubles
The watch case is far from an isolated incident. Mayweather is currently named as a defendant in separate civil cases across at least four states, with plaintiffs in each alleging that he owes them money. The Internal Revenue Service has a tax lien of more than $7.2 million levied against him for unpaid taxes from 2018 and 2023, and a Las Vegas area gated community has filed a separate lien of over $22,500. The IRS declined to comment, citing its standard policy of not discussing individual taxpayer information.
Mayweather has also been active as a plaintiff in his own right, having filed suits earlier this year against Showtime for $340 million and against former business associates for $175 million, alleging fraud and related misconduct in both cases.
Greece trip still on despite passport concerns
Despite the mounting legal pressure, Mayweather is still scheduled to fight kickboxer Mike Zambidis in an exhibition bout on June 27 in Athens, Greece. A source close to Mayweather confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday that he still holds his passport and is expected to travel to Greece later this week. There had been concern at one point that his passport could be revoked due to the IRS lien, but the source said Mayweather’s tax attorneys have been working directly with the federal agency, and he has been cleared to make the trip and return afterward.
Source: ESPN