A former Jacksonville Jaguars govt stole $22 million from the NFL crew and used the cash to fund a luxurious life-style that included a Tesla, personal jet journey and a $95,000 Patek Philippe Nautilus watch, in accordance with US prosecutors.
The manager, Amit Patel, processed fraudulent bank card transactions from September 2019 till he was fired in February, in accordance with fees filed Tuesday in Jacksonville, Florida. Patel is charged with wire fraud and with partaking in an unlawful monetary transaction.
Patel, the crew’s former supervisor of monetary planning and evaluation, agreed to waive his proper to be charged in a felony indictment, in accordance with a court docket doc, a transfer that usually indicators an settlement to plead responsible. The case was first reported in The Athletic.
The legal fees don’t point out the Jaguars, referring to Patel’s former employer solely as “Business A.” However the crew confirmed that it was the sufferer of Patel’s alleged fraud.
Patel took benefit of his job to “covertly and intentionally commit significant fraudulent financial activity at the team’s expense for personal benefit,” the Jaguars mentioned in an announcement.
Alex King, Patel’s lawyer, didn’t instantly return telephone and e mail messages looking for remark.
The Jaguars mentioned the crew has cooperated with investigators and employed accountants and legislation corporations to assessment the transactions. No different staff had been conscious of the fraud and Patel had no entry to confidential soccer technique or different info.
The Jaguars, with eight wins and 4 losses, presently lead the AFC South division of the Nationwide Soccer League.
Digital Credit score Card
Prosecutors declare Patel oversaw the crew’s digital bank card program, which allowed some staff to cost bills with out a bodily bank card. Every month it was Patel’s job to create a file accounting for the costs from the previous month.
Patel created recordsdata with fraudulent entries, inventing phony transactions, shifting up authentic fees from future months and inflating some fees, together with for catering, airfare and motels, in accordance with the federal government.
Prosecutors declare Patel spent the tens of millions he stole from the crew on web playing, a condominium close to Florida’s Ponte Vedra Seaside and for personal jet journey and luxurious lodging for himself and associates.
He purchased a brand new Tesla Mannequin 3 sedan and a Nissan pickup truck, cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens, sports activities memorabilia, a rustic membership membership, tickets to sporting occasions and high-end watches, together with the Patek Philippe.
Patel additionally allegedly used stolen cash to rent a private coach and a legal protection lawyer.
