Jaguars sue Amit Patel, the employee who stole $22 million for gambling for the team

Last year, the Jaguars found out about Amit Patel, an employee who worked in their finance department, siphoned off a few million dollars by altering the actual numbers.

Jaguars sue Amit Patel, the employee who stole $22 million for gambling for the team

Jacksonville Jaguars sue Amit Patel (Image via IMAGO)

The Jacksonville Jaguars are suing former employee Amit Patel, who pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $20 million from the team’s accounts. If the verdict goes in favor of the NFL side, then Patel has to pay them $66 million in damages.

According to records, Patel was a minor financial planner for the Jaguars. They alleged that Patel committed misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, and civil theft, ESPN’s Xuan Thai reported.

YouTube video

Patel used his position to get access to the team’s VCC (Virtual Credit Card) and siphoned off an estimated $22 million from the Jaguars account. He used some of the money to buy various items, including a condo. However, he transferred $20 million to FanDuel.

FS Video

Amit Patel pleaded guilty to all the charges in December, and a Florida court sentenced him to six years in prison, which could rise to 30. Furthermore, he has to pay back $66 million because, under Florida law, the plaintiff has the right to seek triple the amount the accused embezzled from them.

What were the items Amit Patel purchased with Jaguars money?

Patel went on a buying spree with the money, which he siphoned over three and a half years. Court documents showed Patel owning several lavish items, including a condo at Ponte Vedra Beach. He used some of the money to place bets on online websites aside from FanDuel.

Jaguars sue Amit Patel, the employee who stole $22 million for gambling for the team
Amit Patel (Image via ESPN)

A generous portion of the money he spent on traveling with style on airplanes. He made roundtrips from his house to other cities and even to other continents in business class. There, he would spend more on luxurious hotels and food, as well as all the other comforts that came with it, which included spa treatments and a wristwatch worth a whopping $95,000.

Furthermore, he bought a Tesla Model 3 sedan, which can cost between $45,990 and $47,240. He invested in green cryptocurrency, non-fungible tokens, electronics, and sports memorabilia, and even gained membership in the Country Club.

Patel reportedly agreed to forfeit all of the belongings bought with the stolen money. If the Jaguars win the lawsuit, they will gain access to all of them to recuperate a chunk of the money.

During his statement in December, Amit Patel revealed that he had a gambling disorder for which he took regular therapy, per ESPN. Moreover, he also claimed to have undergone treatment for alcohol and substance abuse in 2022.

In case you missed it: