Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr., 49, is facing two felony charges in Las Vegas after allegedly using a bad check to purchase a $200,000 luxury watch. Prosecutors in Clark County filed the formal criminal complaint on April 27, 2026, following a lengthy dispute between the fighter and Gold and Beyond, a high-end resale boutique.
The charges involve allegations of theft and the intent to defraud stemming from a transaction that occurred in December 2024.
The case first reached authorities in February 2026 when Gold and Beyond filed an initial complaint with Nevada officials. According to court documents, the retired undefeated champion allegedly wrote a $200,000 check tied to a Wells Fargo account to secure an Audemars Piguet timepiece on December 31, 2024.
Prosecutors claim Mayweather acted “knowingly, feloniously, and without lawful authority,” as the account reportedly lacked the necessary funds, property, or credit to cover the full amount.
The legal stakes for the man nicknamed “Money” are high, with one charge carrying a potential 20-year prison sentence. While modern stars often face public scrutiny, as seen when com/shakur-stevenson-fans-roast-social-media-post-authenticity/”>fans roast Shakur Stevenson after his social media post regarding his image, Mayweather is dealing with a serious criminal prosecution that could impact his freedom. His legal team made an appearance in Las Vegas Justice Court on June 15, 2026, though the boxer was not physically present.
Breakdown of the felony theft and fraud charges
The specific charges filed against Floyd Mayweather Jr. carry distinct penalties under Nevada law. The most severe count is “theft, value $100,000 or greater.” If found guilty of this charge, the 49-year-old faces a prison term of one to 20 years and a potential fine of up to $15,000. This reflects the significant $200,000 valuation placed on the Audemars Piguet watch.
The second count is “draw or pass check with intent to defraud, value $1,200 or greater.” This charge carries a potential prison sentence of one to four years, alongside a fine of up to $5,000 and the cost of restitution. Prosecutors allege the boxer was aware the funds were not available when he handed over the check for the luxury item nearly 18 months ago.
Defense claims a long business history with the jeweler
Adrian Lobo, the attorney representing Mayweather, has dismissed the criminal nature of the charges. She stated that her client had “absolutely no intent to defraud” the store. Lobo argued that Mayweather had a long-standing business relationship with the owner of Gold and Beyond, both before and after the alleged December 2024 transaction.
According to the defense, this is a civil matter that has been incorrectly funneled into the criminal courts.
Despite the defense’s position, the prosecution moved forward following the boutique’s own escalation of the complaint earlier this year. The contrast between Mayweather’s public persona and a bounced check for a watch has drawn comparisons to other luxury sports controversies. While com/anthony-joshua-dismisses-jake-paul-s-injury-with-that-s-figh/”>Anthony Joshua dismisses Jake Paul’s injury as a standard part of the fight game, legal battles involving high-value assets are a different kind of combat altogether.
Gold and Beyond attorney details broken trust
Marc Cook, the attorney representing Gold and Beyond, explained that the boutique tried to resolve the payment issue privately for over a year. He told ESPN that the store owner trusted Mayweather and gave him several chances to “make good” on the payment. The decision to involve the Clark County District Attorney’s office came after the store reportedly stopped receiving responses from the Mayweather camp.
Cook emphasized that Mayweather has been in possession of the watch for well over a year without paying for it. The frustration over the delayed payment led to the February filing with Nevada authorities, which eventually resulted in the April 27 felony charges. The jeweler’s team maintains that the boxer knowingly used a check that he could not back with his Wells Fargo account assets.
Concurrent civil litigation and financial pressure
The criminal case is just one part of a complex financial map for Mayweather in 2026. He is currently a plaintiff in two major lawsuits where he claims he is the victim of fraud. In February, he sued Showtime for at least $340 million, alleging a scheme involving his former advisor.
He also filed a May suit seeking $175 million from a former investment manager and real estate advisor.
However, Mayweather is also a defendant in several other civil cases and faces a $7.3 million tax lien from the IRS for unpaid taxes from 2018 and 2023. These complications mirror the administrative hurdles seen in the sport, such as when Robeisy Ramirez calls out Mauricio Sulaiman over canceled May 29 bout, illustrating that top-tier athletes often balance peak performance with off-field friction.
Future hearings and impact on the boxing comeback
The timing of these charges arrives just as Mayweather prepares for a return to active competition. He is expected to appear in Athens, Greece, on June 27 for a “Battle of the Legends” match. Furthermore, he has teased an official end to his professional retirement with a rematch against Manny Pacquiao, which is currently penciled in for September 25 in Las Vegas.
A court order for his appearance followed the April complaint, and his next hearing is scheduled for September. Whether he will be able to proceed with his high-profile Las Vegas bout while facing felony charges in the same jurisdiction remains to be seen.
For now, the legal process in Nevada will dictate whether the world’s most famous boxer spends his birthday year in a ring or a courtroom.
