Ex-financial manager pleads guilty to stealing
JACKSONVILLE — A 31-yearold former Jacksonville Jaguars financial manager accused of stealing more than $22 million from the NFL franchise through its virtual credit card program pleaded guilty to federal charges Thursday and faces up to 30 years in prison.
Amit Patel, wearing a dark suit and a burgundy tie, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of engaging in an illegal monetary transaction in U.S. District Court in Jacksonville. As part of his plea agreement, he will have to forfeit property and assets funded with the money he admittedly stole from the NFL franchise between 2019-23. He also will be required to provide restitution to the victim.
He will be formally sentenced at a later date.
Patel and his attorney, Alex King of First Coast Criminal Defense in Jacksonville, declined comment after the hearing.
King said last week that Patel had gambled away “approximately 99%” of the misappropriated money. Patel said in court he is undergoing weekly treatment for a gambling addiction.
Patel had been gambling on prominent websites at the Jaguars’ facility, which triggered an NFL investigation. The NFL met with Patel in February and then turned the case over to the FBI. The Jaguars subsequently suspended and eventually fired Patel, who began working for the team in 2018.
During his tenure, Patel rose to manager of financial planning and analysis. He oversaw the company’s monthly financial statements and department budgets and served as the club’s administrator of its virtual credit card program, which allowed authorized employees to “request VCC’s for business-related purchases or expenses.”
Being in control of the VCC program allowed Patel to make fraudulent transactions, according to court filing against him. He allegedly duplicated and inflated transactions for items such as catering, airfare and hotel charges and filed fake transactions that seemed legitimate.
Patel kept gambling in hopes of winning back his money and repaying the misappropriated funds, his attorney said.
Patel was accused of using the money to buy two vehicles, a condominium in nearby Ponte Vedra Beach, a designer watch for $95,000 and cryptocurrency, according to the filing. As part of the plea agreement, he must forfeit the property, a 2021 Tesla and the watch to the government.
He also allegedly used the money to buy sports memorabilia, a country club membership, spa treatments and tickets to sporting events and concerts. He also chartered private jets for himself and friends — including some Jaguars co-workers — and lodged a retainer with a criminal defense law firm, according to the filing.