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Madonna wows with first VMAs performance in 23 years

The Queen of Pop enlisted the help of Sabrina Carpenter, Charli xcx, Sombr, Julia Garner and more for her opening medley.

Madonna wows with first VMAs performance in 23 years

In 2005, an 21-year-old man from Delhi arrived in the United States to study at the University of Texas. Several years later, he established an investment firm which drew the attention of high-profile individuals such as NFL player Travis Kelce. Sidharth Jawahar, or Sid, as he was frequently called, also attained a respected reputation as a philanthropist, earning a spot on the board of the Andy Roddick Foundation.

He had every reason to succeed as an immigrant in America. However, everything unraveled in 2023 when a US district judge sentenced the 38-year-old to 11 years in prison for operating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors out of millions of dollars. According to the Department of Justice, Siddharth Jawahar swindled over $35 million from investors, investing only 28% of it.

Among the 64 victims was NFL star Travis Kelce, who married singer Taylor Swift in July of the same year. Sid, who admitted guilt to three counts of wire fraud in January, has been ordered to pay $31.35 million in restitution. Sid's story is one of unchecked ambition that took a turn for the criminal. Born in Delhi, Siddharth began his journey in the US in 2005 at the age of 21.

He initially worked in the financial sector before transitioning to venture capitalism. In a past interview, he shared his childhood experiences in India, which motivated him to "give back to humanity." His philanthropic ventures, including 'Beauty Fund', played a role in enhancing his image and attracting celebrity clients. The Securities Commissioner registered his firm, Swiftarc Capital LLC, in 2013, and it began investing in various sectors, mostly focusing on a single security.

By 2019, over 99% of client funds were concentrated in the stock of Philip Morris Pakistan, which later declined. Swiftarc was found to have overvalued this illiquid position since September 2019. By 2022, the firm had transformed into multiple entities. In a separate civil case, prosecutors claimed that Swiftarc Ventures and its executives used private fund offerings, soliciting investments through confidential paperwork and misleading investors about the actual investments made. Over 64 investors were identified, and Sid was required to pay $31.35 million in restitution.

Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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