The Jacksonville Jaguars have reportedly filed a lawsuit against a former employee, seeking $66.6 million in damages.
This legal action follows the revelation that the ex-employee, Amit Patel, admitted to embezzling $22 million from the team.
Patel, who previously served as a financial manager for the Jaguars, pleaded guilty in December to misappropriating funds through a virtual credit card system designed for team expenses. The franchise is now pursuing more than three times the stolen amount, as reported by ESPN, after Patel, a high-stakes gambler, used the embezzled money to cover substantial gambling losses and finance an extravagant lifestyle.
RELATED: Jacksonville Jaguars Request FanDuel Return $20m Stolen by Amit Patel
The team has accused Patel of fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, and civil theft. A Florida court has already ordered Patel to pay over $21 million in restitution and sentenced him to 78 months in prison.
According to a recent court filing, the bulk of Patel’s theft occurred over an eight-month period, during which he funneled $20 million to FanDuel and $1 million to DraftKings. Patel’s attorney, Alex King, has stated that Patel suffers from a severe gambling addiction, noting that “approximately 99% of the funds misappropriated from the Jaguars’ VCC were gambling losses.” King also mentioned that Patel is “deeply remorseful” and is undergoing treatment for his addiction.
Patel, who is 31 years old, worked for the Jaguars from 2018 until February 2023. His fraudulent activities were uncovered after FanDuel alerted the NFL to suspicious activity in January of that year. Patel used the stolen funds to purchase luxury items and services, including two vehicles—a Tesla and a Nissan pickup truck—a condominium in Ponte Vedra Beach, a $95,000 designer watch, and cryptocurrency. He also bought sports memorabilia, a country club membership, spa treatments, and tickets to various sporting events and concerts. Additionally, Patel chartered private jets for himself and friends and paid a retainer to a criminal defense law firm.
Reports indicate that Patel transferred $5 million from his gambling accounts to his personal PayPal and other accounts to sustain his lavish lifestyle. In response to the lawsuit, the Jaguars have asked FanDuel to reimburse some or all of the $20 million that Patel deposited on their platform.
The lawsuit underscores the Jaguars’ efforts to recover the misappropriated funds and highlights the broader implications of gambling addictions and financial misconduct within professional sports organizations.
