September 26, 2025

Former Jaguars Manager Indicted on State Fraud Charges

News Summary

Amit Patel, the ex-financial manager for the Jacksonville Jaguars, has been indicted on state charges for organized fraud after embezzling over $22 million from the team. Previously sentenced to six years in prison for wire fraud, Patel’s new charges add six counts of grand theft. The Jaguars filed a civil lawsuit to recover $66.7 million in damages. Patel’s gambling addiction fueled his massive fraud, which included luxury purchases and high-stakes gambling. He is currently in jail awaiting a pre-trial hearing.

Jacksonville, Florida – Amit Patel, a former manager of financial planning and analysis for the Jacksonville Jaguars, has been indicted on additional state charges following his federal conviction for embezzling more than $22 million from the NFL team. Patel, 32, was arraigned on one count of organized fraud and pleaded not guilty. His federal conviction had already resulted in a six-year prison sentence in March 2024 after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

Patel’s fraudulent activities, which occurred during his employment from 2018 to 2021, were primarily executed by misusing a Jaguars’ virtual credit card account, directing an astonishing $20 million to his gambling accounts on platforms like FanDuel and DraftKings. His expenditures involved high-end vacations, luxury items, and various lavish purchases, including significant amounts spent at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and even a private jet rental.

In addition to facing federal consequences, Patel has now been charged with six counts of grand theft in the state of Florida, comprising two second-degree felony counts and four third-degree felony counts. If convicted, Patel could face substantially longer prison terms, with second-degree felony charges carrying penalties of up to 15 years, while third-degree charges could lead to a maximum of five years in prison.

Patel’s fraudulent practices led to a significant fallout for the Jaguars, prompting the franchise to file a civil lawsuit against him in July 2024. The lawsuit seeks to recover $66.7 million in damages related to civil theft and fraudulent misrepresentation. The team has also initiated moves to reclaim some of their losses directly from the former employee.

Patel has been remanded to the Duval County Jail and is awaiting a scheduled pre-trial hearing on October 30, 2024. He previously garnered attention for transferring over $20 million into his FanDuel account, as well as an additional $1.1 million to DraftKings for gambling purposes. Prior to being terminated from his position in February 2023, Patel’s embezzling spanned approximately 3½ years, drawing the investigation of federal law enforcement.

In December 2023, Patel acknowledged his culpability by pleading guilty to federal charges related to wire fraud and illegal monetary transactions, leading to his sentencing. In addition to serving time, he was ordered to repay $21 million in restitution for the lost funds, indicating the severe financial impact of his deceptive practices on the Jaguars and contributing parties.

While serving his sentence, Patel has taken legal action against FanDuel, filing a civil suit for $250 million, which claims the gambling company failed to recognize responsible gaming protocols and exacerbated his gambling addiction. Patel’s lawyer contended that the former employee had an excessive number of communications, averaging around 100 per day, with a FanDuel VIP host, suggesting they manipulated him into sustaining his gambling behavior.

As a condition of his future release from federal prison, Patel will be subjected to two years of supervised release. Additionally, he will be required to enroll in a substance abuse program and will be prohibited from participating in any gambling activities.

The majority of Patel’s embezzled funds were funneled into gambling accounts, which he then spent on extravagant purchases, thereby illustrating the profound implications of gambling addiction. During his sentencing, he expressed feelings of embarrassment and shame regarding his actions, attributing his decisions to his struggles with gambling.

In a separate yet related development, the NFL has reportedly intervened to encourage a resolution between the Jaguars and FanDuel, resulting in FanDuel compensating the Jaguars with approximately $5 million in acknowledgment of the situation, ameliorating some of the financial strain caused by Patel’s actions.

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Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER

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