A former Jacksonville Jaguars employee who stole more than $22 million from the team said he did so to repay gambling losses, his attorney said. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Amit Patel, the former Jacksonville Jaguars employee who allegedly stole more than $22 million from the team, did so because of a gambling addiction, according to his attorney. In a statement Thursday, Patel’s attorney, Alex King, said Patel “used virtual credit card funds to gamble on Daily Fantasy Sports” on FanDuel and DraftKings.
King said that “99% of the embezzled funds” were related to gambling and that the largest gambling losses came in the months leading up to the NFL’s investigation. Patel has reportedly been undergoing treatment for gambling addiction since the spring.
He regrets his actions that led to him losing his dream job and harming the organization.”
“Mr. Patel is deeply remorseful and apologizes for his behavior,” King said. “He loved working for the Jacksonville Jaguars and is remorseful for his actions that led to him losing his dream job and harming the organization. Mr. Patel remains in treatment and intends to continue treatment for the foreseeable future.
King called Patel’s scheme to use Jaguar’s VCC to fund his addiction “horribly misguided,” but noted that “Mr. Patel did not use Jaguar’s VCC to fund his lifestyle.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida disagrees. While it certainly acknowledges that Patel used some of the money to gamble, the AFO also says Patel spent the money on a condo in Florida, private jets, luxury hotels, multiple vehicles, cryptocurrency, watches, a country club membership, and more.
