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- Jaguars sue Amit Patel, ex-employee who stole funds (newsbreak.com)
The Jacksonville Jaguars have filed a lawsuit seeking $66.6 million in damages from former employee Amit Patel, who admitted to embezzling over $22 million from the NFL team. The case, filed in a Florida state court, claims that Patel, who managed the team’s virtual credit card system, redirected the funds primarily over an eight-month period to cover gambling debts and afford lavish expenses.
Patel confessed in federal court last December to stealing the money during a 3.5-year span. The Jaguars’ lawsuit centers on accusations of fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, and civil theft, with these charges largely stemming from Patel’s own admissions.
Response from Patel’s attorney, Alex King, was not immediately available following a request for comment by ESPN.
Legal expert Negin Kordbacheh noted that a successful outcome for the Jaguars could broaden their options for reclaiming the stolen funds, such as seizing assets that Patel legally owns. Florida law permits plaintiffs to recoup up to threefold the actual damages incurred.
Court records reveal that Patel funneled $20 million into his FanDuel account, enjoying the privileges of a VIP host, and used another $1 million for DraftKings. Known for substantial betting losses, Patel acknowledged his gambling disorder. His illegal activities surfaced in February 2023 after placing a bet in Kansas, which breached both state law and NFL betting rules.
Prosecutors disclosed that Patel had moved $5 million from his sports betting accounts to PayPal and other personal accounts, spending on luxuries like Tiger Woods’ 1996 putter and costly private jet flights.
ESPN reported that the Jaguars have approached FanDuel about recovering some or all of the misappropriated $20 million, though the team has not commented on the status of these discussions.
Currently, Patel is serving a 6.5-year sentence in a federal prison in South Carolina. According to Kordbacheh, the Jaguars stand a good chance of prevailing in their civil lawsuit against Patel, considering the lower burden of proof compared to criminal cases.
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- Jaguars sue Amit Patel, ex-employee who stole funds (newsbreak.com)