JACKSONVILLE, FL – A former executive of the Jacksonville Jaguars was charged with allegedly embezzling over $22 million from the NFL team. Court documents filed in the U.S. District Court in Jacksonville unveil serious accusations of wire fraud and illegal monetary transactions against Amit Patel, the ex-financial manager of the Jaguars.

Patel, who had been employed by the Jaguars since 2018, manipulated the team’s virtual credit card system to siphon funds between 2019 and 2023. The organization dismissed Patel in February 2023 upon discovering the misappropriation and has since cooperated with federal authorities in the investigation.

The financial improprieties were sophisticated and extensive. According to legal filings, Patel utilized his role to authorize fraudulent transactions, redirecting the stolen millions toward personal indulgences that include luxury vehicles, high-end watches, and real estate. His spending spree, conducted under the guise of legitimate business expenses, notably featured a Tesla Model 3, a beachfront condo, and bets on online gambling platforms.

The Jaguars, identified in court papers as “Business A,” issued a statement confirming the internal breach and Patel’s dismissal while assuring that no other team members were involved or aware of his criminal activities. The team also emphasized that the compromised data did not include sensitive football-related information but was limited to financial operations due to Patel’s position.

As the overseer of the Jaguars’ financial planning and analysis, Patel had privileged access to the club’s virtual credit card program. He exploited this system to fabricate inflated transaction records for catering, travel expenses, and other costs, artfully camouflaging his embezzlement.

The financial irregularities extended to extravagant purchases, such as sports collectibles and exclusive membership at a country club. Additionally, Patel is said to have funded private jet charters and retained a criminal defense law firm.

The exact method Patel employed involved manipulating integration files sent to the Jaguars’ accounting department, injecting false entries while maintaining the correct total expenditure figures to avoid immediate detection.

Patel’s legal representative has yet to provide any comments regarding the allegations. The case, now in the hands of the judicial system, continues to unfold as authorities probe deeper into one of the most significant fraud cases in sports franchise history.