Ex-Jaguars employee pleads guilty to charges over team theft - ESPN

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A former Jacksonville Jaguars financial employee faces a maximum of 30 years in prison and up to a $500,000 fine after he pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to stealing more than $22 million from the NFL franchise over a four-year period.

Amit Patel, wearing a dark suit, burgundy tie and brown shoes, pleaded guilty to felony charges of wire fraud and illegal monetary transaction in United States District Court. He will be sentenced by a district court judge at a later date.

Patel, 31, did not respond to a request for comment. Patel's attorney, Alex King, declined to comment and said to contact him via email.

Patel was released on a $10,000 signature bond and was ordered to surrender his passport, undergo a mental health evaluation, avoid using alcohol or drugs unless prescribed, submit to drug testing, and not have any contact with any Jaguars employees unless his attorney was present.

The United States Attorney's office had claimed in a court filing that Patel — who held various titles during his tenure with the Jaguars, including most recently manager, financial planning and analysis — used his position as the sole overseer of the franchise's virtual credit card program to fund lavish personal purchases and cover up his theft.

According to the court filing, Patel is accused of stealing $22,221,454.40 and using some of that money for purchases that included a condominium in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, a Tesla Model 3 sedan, cryptocurrency, chartering private jets, luxury hotel stays, a country club membership and luxury wristwatches.

Patel said during the hearing he has a «gambling disorder» and is seeing a therapist weekly for treatment. He also said he underwent treatment for alcohol and