Former Jacksonville Jaguars executive Amit Patel has been charged with six counts of grand theft under Florida law after embezzling $22 million from the team.
Patel, who is serving a 6.5-year federal sentence after pleading guilty to federal charges of wire fraud and illegal monetary transaction, now faces additional time in jail.
As reported by Mike Florio of NBC's Pro Football Talk, there is no federal law against theft; it’s a state-law issue.
As previously reported, Patel used the money “to buy vehicles, a condominium and a designer watch worth over $95,000 … he also purchased cryptocurrency, splurged on luxury travel for himself and others and used the funds to keep a criminal defense lawyer on retainer.”
Related: Former Employee Who Stole $22M From Jaguars Gets 78 Months
Almost exactly one year ago, the Jaguars filed a lawsuit against Patel seeking $66.6 million.
Related: Jaguars Seek $66.6M in Lawsuit Against Former Employee Who Stole $22M
According to Florio, Patel's lawyer has blamed the embezzlement on a gambling addiction. Patel also has sued FanDuel and others for “actively and intentionally target[ing] and prey[ing] on Plaintiff with incentives, credits, and gifts to create, nurture, expedite, and/or exacerbate his addiction with the only possible outcome that he would ultimately hit rock bottom.”
"With a 6.5-year federal prison term and more coming for theft under Florida law, rock bottom could end up being another level or two lower for Patel," Florio reported.
