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A former employee of the Jacksonville Jaguars is facing federal charges for allegedly embezzling a staggering $22 million from the NFL team.
According to TheAthletic.com, Amit Patel, who held various roles during his tenure with the Jaguars, is accused of exploiting the organization's virtual credit card program for personal gain.
Patel used his position with Jaguars to hide thef
t
The United States Attorney's Office has charged Patel with wire fraud and illegal monetary transactions.
The charges claim that Patel, who served as the sole overseer of the franchise's virtual credit card program, abused his position to fund extravagant personal purchases and conceal his theft.
The accusations against Patel include using the stolen funds to purchase luxury items such as two vehicles, a condominium, and a designer watch.
Additionally, he is alleged to have invested in cryptocurrency, placed bets on online gambling sites, and chartered personal jets.
Jaguars are cooperating with the investigation
While the team's name was not explicitly mentioned in the federal filing, the Jaguars have confirmed Patel's alleged misconduct.
In a statement, the team expressed gratitude for the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office for their efforts in the investigation.
The Jaguars emphasized that Patel had no access to confidential football information and that an independent review concluded no other team employees were involved or aware of his criminal activities.
Patel, who worked for the Jaguars from 2018 to 2023, faces charges of wire fraud and illegal monetary transactions.
The alleged fraudulent transactions, which began in September 2019, involved duplicating reoccurring credit card transactions, inflating legitimate expenses, and creating entirely fictitious transactions.
If convicted, Patel could be compelled to forfeit property equivalent to the stolen amount, estimated at $22,221,454.40.