Former Jacksonville Jaguars Employee Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Stealing $22 Million

In a recent development, a former employee of the Jacksonville Jaguars has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for financial crimes, including stealing over $22 million from the NFL team. Amit Patel, who pleaded guilty to felony charges of wire fraud and illegal monetary transaction, will also be required to repay a significant portion of the stolen funds.

Patel's sentence was handed down by a federal judge on Tuesday, who determined that he must serve six-and-a-half years behind bars and repay more than $21 million, according to a spokesperson from the US Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida. If Patel had been found guilty at trial, he could have faced up to 30 years in prison.

Prosecutors alleged that Patel carried out his scheme over a period of four years by using the team's virtual credit card system. As the former manager of financial planning and analysis for the Jaguars, Patel had sole control over the virtual credit card system, which operates similarly to a traditional credit card but without a physical card.

According to court documents, Patel devised an elaborate plan to siphon funds from the team between September 2019 and February 2023 while evading detection. The stolen money was then used to finance a lavish lifestyle, including online gambling, private travel, sporting tickets, a new Tesla, a Nissan pickup truck, cryptocurrency, and a property in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Patel's attorney, Alex King, has previously refuted the allegations, claiming that his client's lifestyle was funded legitimately. King also stated that Patel deeply regrets his actions and apologizes for his conduct. Additionally, it was disclosed that Patel is receiving professional treatment for a serious gambling addiction.

The theft of millions of dollars from the Jacksonville Jaguars has undoubtedly had a significant impact on the NFL team. As the legal proceedings conclude, the team and its fans hope to move forward with stronger financial safeguards to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

It remains to be seen how Patel will repay the stolen funds, but the court's decision serves as a stark reminder that financial crimes will not go unpunished, even within the world of professional sports.