Floyd Mayweather Faces Felony Charges Over Alleged $200,000 Watch Theft

Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather is facing serious legal trouble in Las Vegas, where prosecutors have filed two felony charges against him over allegations that he used a bad check to buy a high-end watch. The 49-year-old former five-division world champion, who retired with an undefeated 50-0 record, was charged in April with theft as well as drawing and passing a check without sufficient funds with the intent to defraud. Court records show that Clark County prosecutors filed a criminal complaint against Mayweather on April 27, with a court order issued three days later requiring him to appear before a judge. Mayweather was scheduled for an initial appearance on Monday in Las Vegas Justice Court, but he did not attend in person. Instead, an attorney represented him at the hearing, and his case has been scheduled for a subsequent hearing in September. Neither Mayweather’s attorney nor the Clark County District Attorney’s office immediately commented on the case.

Prosecutors allege that on December 31, 2024, Mayweather wrote a $200,000 check through Wells Fargo Bank to Gold and Beyond, a luxury designer resale boutique in Las Vegas, to purchase an Audemars Piguet watch. The criminal complaint claims that Mayweather‘s account did not contain enough money, property, or credit to cover the payment, and that he acted “knowingly, feloniously, and without lawful authority.” According to court documents, authorities stated that “the check was deposited and returned unpaid as the defendant well knew.” A certified letter was mailed to Mayweather notifying him of the returned check and demanding full payment, but the amount was never paid, according to prosecutors. The complaint specifically states that Mayweather had “insufficient money, property, or credit” in the account to honor the check, and that he obtained property while “knowing that the check would not be paid” when presented for payment.

The store’s attorney, Marc Cook of Cook & Kelesis, which represents Gold and Beyond, explained that the business deliberately delayed filing the complaint to give Mayweather an opportunity to resolve the matter privately. According to Cook, the store first filed a complaint with the Clark County District Attorney’s Office in February. Cook stated, “The reason for the delay is that my guy trusted Mayweather and was trying to give him every opportunity to make good on that. 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.” Cook added that the business initially hoped to settle the matter without criminal charges, but several attempts to recover the money failed before turning to prosecutors. A source close to the store indicated that they even sent a certified demand letter to avoid a public scandal, but Mayweather allegedly ghosted them, forcing the store to pursue criminal charges. Mayweather’s attorney, Adrian Lobo, has argued that her client had no intention of defrauding Gold and Beyond, and that the complaint should have been filed in civil court instead.

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If convicted, Mayweather faces significant penalties under Nevada law. The felony theft charge, which involves property valued at $100,000 or more, carries a potential prison sentence of **one to 20 years** and fines of up to $15,000. The fraud-related charge for drawing a check with intent to defraud carries a possible sentence of one to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Combined, Mayweather could face a maximum of 24 years behind bars if convicted on both felony counts. Neither Mayweather’s attorney nor the Clark County District Attorney’s office immediately commented on the case, and a source close to Mayweather’s legal team indicated they are preparing a vigorous defense.

The watch theft charges are just the latest in a series of financial and legal challenges for Mayweather, who reportedly earned over $1 billion** during his boxing career. Plaintiffs in at least four states claim Mayweather owes them money, with legal battles spanning from Nevada to New York and beyond. Mayweather is facing a federal tax lien of over **$7.2 million filed by the IRS, covering two prior tax periods. The IRS filed a notice of federal tax lien with the Clark County recorder’s office against Floyd J. Mayweather, showing an unpaid balance of $7,279,664.45. The lien lists Mayweather’s “residence” as an office suite in Boca Raton, Florida. According to a source close to Mayweather’s former associate, the boxer’s financial, tax levy, and lien issues date back to at least 2018, years before certain business relationships began. There are also reports that the IRS has notified Mayweather of its intention to revoke his passport over an unresolved seriously delinquent tax debt, with the IRS reportedly informing him of its intention to notify the Department of State in late March.

Earlier this year, Mayweather was sued in New York over his alleged failure to pay rent at a Manhattan apartment. The lawsuit claimed he stopped paying rent on a leased apartment in July 2025, owing $330,000, despite continuing to post pictures of himself on private jets surrounded by stacks of cash. A judge also recently ordered him to pay **$1 million in back child support** to a former dancer, adding to his mounting financial obligations. Mayweather has also been involved in financial disagreements with multiple jewelers, with sources indicating he has a history of disputes over unpaid bills in the luxury goods sector. He filed a separate lawsuit in New York against his former business manager, Jona Rechnitz, alleging a yearslong fraud scheme that allegedly drained his bank accounts and hijacked real estate deals. According to TMZ, Mayweather is seeking at least $175 million** in that lawsuit, claiming that roughly $100 million worth of jewelry was handed over to Miami jewelers for only about $13 million in return, and that a huge chunk of the collection is still sitting with the dealers. The defendants have called the claims “utterly baseless” and plan to vigorously defend against them, with their attorney stating that Mayweather’s “gambling issues, prolific spending habits, monies owed to third party creditors and IRS tax liens and levys, as well as other unseemly behavior will be exposed.” Additionally, Mayweather is facing a lawsuit with Showtime Networks for over **$340 million, accusing the network and longtime advisor Al Haymon of stealing from him.

Despite the legal challenges, Mayweather recently announced plans to return to competitive boxing. He is scheduled to participate in the “Battle of the Legends” event in Athens, Greece, on June 27 against kickboxer Mike Zambidis. A source close to Mayweather told ESPN that he still plans to travel to Greece this week for the scheduled bout, despite the passport concerns. The case is scheduled for a hearing in September, where Mayweather’s legal team will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations. Mayweather remains one of boxing’s most recognisable figures, having retired with an unbeaten professional record and world titles across five weight divisions. The outcome of the Nevada case could have significant legal and financial implications for the boxing star if prosecutors secure a conviction, potentially derailing his planned exhibition bouts and further tarnishing his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest and wealthiest champions.

Floyd Mayweather Faces Felony Charges Over Alleged $200,000 Watch Theft