The lawyer for the former Jacksonville Jaguars employee who stole more than $22 million from the team says he did so to make up for gambling losses. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Amit Patel, the former Jacksonville Jaguars employee who allegedly stole over $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 “VCC (virtual credit card) funds to play on daily fantasy sports” on FanDuel and DraftKings.
King said that “99% of the embezzled funds” were related to gambling and that the highest gambling losses occurred in the months leading up to the NFL’s investigation. Patel has reportedly been undergoing treatment for gambling addiction since the spring.
“Regrets his actions, which resulted in him both losing his dream job and damaging the organization.”
“Mr. “Patel is deeply remorseful and apologizes for his behavior,” King said. “He loved working for the Jacksonville Jaguars and regrets his actions, which resulted in him both losing his dream job and harming the organization Mr Patel remains under treatment and intends to seek further treatment for the foreseeable future.”
King called Patel’s plan to use the Jaguars’ VCC system to finance his addiction “terribly misguided,” but noted that “Mr. Patel did not use the Jaguars’ 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 for gambling, the USAO also says that Patel spent money on a Florida condo, private jets and luxury hotels, multiple vehicles, cryptocurrency, wristwatches, a country club membership and more has.
