Amit Patel, a former worker at the Jacksonville Jaguars, an American Football team, is accused of stealing $22 million from the football team between 2019 and 2023.
Patel is an Indian origin, who handled the club’s money matters, and allegedly misused his power over a virtual credit card program. This allowed him to make fake transactions, like inflating bills for things such as catering, flights, and hotels. He got fired in February 2023.
Patel is said to have used the stolen money to live a fancy lifestyle. This included buying expensive items like a $95,000 watch, sports memorabilia, and even chartering private jets for himself and his friends. He supposedly spent the cash on personal stuff like a Tesla car, a Nissan pickup truck, a condo, cryptocurrency, and online gambling.
The accusations also include claims that Patel used the money for spa treatments, memberships, and tickets to events.
He’s facing charges of wire fraud and illegal money transactions. If he’s found guilty, he might have to give up things he bought with the stolen money, like property and assets, totaling at least $22,221,454.40.
The Jaguars fired Patel in February 2023. The team clarified that Patel, who used to manage financial planning, didn’t have access to secret football information.
An investigation found that no other team members were involved in or knew about Patel’s actions.
