Former Jacksonville Jaguars Employee Accused of Embezzling $22 Million for Luxury Lifestyle
Federal prosecutors have revealed shocking details about former Jacksonville Jaguars employee Amit Patel’s alleged embezzlement of $22 million from the NFL franchise. The funds were reportedly used to finance a lavish “life of luxury,” including extravagant purchases such as Tiger Woods’ putter from 1996 and over $78,000 on private air travel.
According to court filings, Patel also spent $275,000 on his attorney’s retainer, claiming that he developed a gambling addiction and used the stolen money to pay off his debts as losses mounted. The attorney, Alex King, stated that “99% of the misappropriated funds” went towards gambling losses, with approximately $5 million used for personal expenses.
Documents show that Patel transferred millions to popular gambling sites FanDuel and DraftKings, as well as spending hundreds of thousands on Apple products and tens of thousands at Amazon and Best Buy. He also moved $5 million from his gambling accounts into personal accounts.
Despite being fired by the Jaguars in early 2023, Patel allegedly continued to spend the stolen money on purchases from the team, including the Pro Shop, stadium club, and stadium. He pleaded guilty to felony wire fraud and illegal monetary transactions and faces a maximum of 30 years in prison and a fine. Patel is set to be sentenced next week.
The shocking case has raised concerns about financial security within professional sports organizations and serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked gambling addiction. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
