Former UFC fighter Bryan Caraway has been charged with four felonies in a 2018 case involving the alleged theft of an all-terrain vehicle belonging to his ex-girlfriend, former UFC champion Miesha Tate.
Caraway was charged with fraud, first-degree attempted theft, filing a false insurance claim and making a false statement on a vehicle title in Benton (Washington) County, according to the prosecuting attorney’s charging document, which was obtained by ESPN.
The case centers around Caraway allegedly stealing Tate’s ATV, buying insurance on the vehicle and then claiming it stolen three days later, after Tate had taken back the ATV. Tate is a former UFC women’s bantamweight champion and one of the most well-known women to compete in MMA.
Caraway initially was charged Jan. 12. He failed to appear in Benton County Superior Court, and a bench warrant for his arrest was issued Feb. 4. On Feb. 10, Caraway was placed on Benton County insurance commissioner Mike Kriedler’s insurance fraud most-wanted list, but he was removed after he contacted the prosecutor’s office.
Caraway’s arraignment hearing is scheduled for March 11.
According to an investigation by the Benton County insurance commissioner’s office, Tate took back the ATV that Caraway allegedly stole from her on Dec. 18, 2018. On Dec. 21, 2018, Caraway bought an insurance policy for the vehicle. Three days after purchasing the policy, Caraway filed a claim that the ATV was stolen.
Caraway, 36, told the insurance company that he bought the ATV — plus helmets, a battery charger and a spare tire — for $18,500 when he and Tate were still a couple. He provided a vehicle title showing that Tate had gifted him the ATV in January 2018. According to the insurance commissioner’s report, the investigation showed evidence that Caraway allegedly forged the title and the vehicle was not actually stolen but in the possession of its rightful owner, Tate. Caraway withdrew his claim, and the insurance company referred the case to the insurance commissioner.
According to the report, Tate told investigators that she informed Caraway in December 2018 that she was going to be picking up her ATV. Caraway, Tate said, threatened to file a report that the vehicle was stolen. The report said Tate told investigators that she found out Caraway had allegedly altered and forged a title for the vehicle, and she reported that to the Richland (Washington) Police Department in December 2019.
Caraway was out of the UFC in 2019. He has not fought for the promotion since November 2018. Tate, 34, retired from the UFC in November 2016. She beat Holly Holm to win the UFC women’s bantamweight title at UFC 196 in March 2016, then lost the belt to Amanda Nunes, who remains the champion, at UFC 200 in July 2016.