Lawyer says ex-Jaguars employee has gambling addiction - ESPN

The attorney for a former Jacksonville Jaguars employee facing federal fraud charges said his client suffers from a gambling addiction that contributed to his alleged theft of more than $22 million from the franchise.

Federal investigators allege Amit Patel manipulated the Jaguars' virtual credit card program (VCC) to steal $22,221,454.40 during a scheme that began in September 2019 and ended in February after an NFL investigation and his subsequent termination.

In a statement released Thursday, Patel's attorney Alex King said his client, «used VCC funds to gamble on Daily Fantasy Sports» on FanDuel and DraftKings and that «approximately 99% of the misappropriated funds» were from gambling losses.

«The losses were most significant in the final months leading up to the NFL's investigation,» King said in the statement, adding that Patel has been receiving treatment for his gambling addiction since the spring.

FanDuel declined comment on the case. ESPN has reached out to DraftKings for comment.

In court filings this week, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida alleges that, in addition to his gambling, Patel used the proceeds from the scheme for personal travel that included chartered private jets and luxury hotels, and to purchase a condominium in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, multiple vehicles, sporting event tickets, cryptocurrency, a country club membership and luxury wrist watches, among other items and services.

«Mr. Patel did not use the Jaguars' VCC to fund his lifestyle, but in a horribly misguided effort to pay back previous gambling losses that utilized the Jaguars' VCC program,» King said.

The NFL's gambling policy prohibits club and league employees from gambling on any sport and from