The Jacksonville Jaguars are reportedly suing a former employee for $66.6 million in damages, months after he admitted to stealing $22 million from the team.
Amit Patel, a former Jaguars financial executive, pleaded guilty in December to stealing millions through a virtual credit card system he used for expenses in Jacksonville.
And now the franchise is hoping to get three times that amount back, reports ESPNafter the high-stakes gambler used the money to pay off huge losses and fund a “life of luxury,” the network said.
Patel has already been ordered by a Florida court to pay more than $21 million in restitution and was sentenced to 78 months in prison.
Patel committed his crimes over a three-and-a-half-year period, but the Jaguars said in a court document Thursday that he stole the bulk of the money, $20 million, over an eight-month period.
ESPN reported, citing court documents, that Patel sent $20 million to FanDuel and $1 million to DraftKings.
Amit Patel, a former Jaguars financial executive, was sentenced to 78 months in prison
Patel, 31, worked as the Jaguars’ financial manager from 2018 to February 2023
Patel’s lawyer, Alex King, had previously said his client suffered from a gambling addiction and that “approximately 99% of the funds embezzled from the Jaguars’ VCC were gambling losses”.
King also said his client is “deeply remorseful” and is receiving treatment for his addiction.
The 31-year-old worked for the Jaguars organization from 2018 through February 2023, after betting site FanDuel alerted the NFL to his activities a month earlier.
He was accused of using the stolen money to buy two vehicles — a Tesla and a Nissan pickup truck — an apartment in nearby Ponte Vedra Beach, a $95,000 designer watch and cryptocurrency.
He also allegedly used the money to buy sports memorabilia, a country club membership, spa treatments and tickets to sporting events and concerts. And he chartered private jets for himself and friends and filed a retainer with a criminal law firm.
Patel allegedly transferred $5 million from his gambling account to his PayPal account to fund his lifestyle.
The Jaguars have asked FanDuel to refund some or all of the $20 million Patel invested in the site, ESPN reported.