A former employee of the Jacksonville Jaguars has been sentenced to over six years in federal prison and three years of supervised release for stealing $22 million over a span of three years.
Amit Patel, aged 31, admitted his guilt in December for wire fraud and other illicit transactions. He embezzled millions of dollars from the team’s funds to indulge in a lavish lifestyle, splurging on luxurious items, private jet trips, vacations, and more.
The Jacksonville Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigations stated that Patel had deliberately and knowingly devised a deceptive scheme to finance a luxurious lifestyle using funds from his employer.
According to reports, Patel allegedly developed an addiction to gambling, alcohol, and excessive drinking. This addiction quickly escalated and became uncontrollable. As a result, U.S. District Judge Henry Lee Adams Jr. not only ordered Patel to repay the Jacksonville Jaguars a staggering amount of over $21 million in restitution but also mandated his attendance at Gamblers Anonymous meetings.
Patel expressed his apologies to the individuals present in the courtroom, assuring them that he has maintained sobriety for over a year.
“I am standing here, feeling embarrassed, shamed, and disappointed by my own actions,” he expressed.
“After the sentencing of Patel, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Jacksonville Division, Mark Dargis, issued a statement emphasizing the message it sends to other scam artists. He warned that the FBI and their partners will persistently pursue corporate fraud investigations to safeguard consumers from the financial burdens caused by criminal activities.”
In court, a representative from the Jaguars expressed their disappointment in Patel, stating that he had betrayed the team.
“We granted him his dream job. We placed our trust in him. We collaborated closely with him. We shared meals and experiences together. We navigated through the challenges of a pandemic and the ups and downs of the NFL alongside him,” expressed Megha Parekh, the Jaguars’ senior vice president and chief legal officer, in her statement to the court.
