Ex-Jaguars employee is accused of stealing

A former Jacksonville Jaguars financial manager accused of stealing more than $22 million from the franchise has a gambling addiction and plans to plead guilty to resolve federal charges against him, his attorney said Thursday.

Attorney Alex King of First Coast Criminal Defense in Jacksonville released a statement on behalf of his client, Amit Patel, and said “approximately 99% of the funds misappropriated” from the team’s virtual credit card program were gambled away.

The NFL met with Patel in February as part of an investigation into his gambling, most of which took place on two prominent websites. The Jaguars subsequently suspended and later fired Patel, King said.

“Mr. Patel suffers from a serious gambling addiction, and in the spring of this year, checked himself into extensive, inpatient rehabilitation to address his addiction,” King said. “Mr. Patel’s serious gambling addiction does not excuse his actions, which he takes full responsibility for.”

Patel kept gambling in hopes of winning back his money and repaying the misappropriated funds, his attorney said.

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