JACKSONVILLE, FL – Amit Patel, a 31-year-old from Jacksonville, has been sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison for wire fraud and conducting an illegal monetary transaction. The court also ordered Patel to forfeit $22,221,454.40, the total proceeds from his fraudulent activities, and mandated full restitution to his victim and former employer, the Jacksonville Jaguars. Patel’s guilty plea was entered on December 14.
Court documents reveal Patel’s involvement in a sophisticated fraud scheme, embezzling approximately $22 million from the Jaguars. Utilizing his position as the administrator of the team’s virtual credit card program, Patel executed hundreds of unauthorized transactions. To conceal these activities, he manipulated accounting files sent to the Jaguar’s accounting department, incorporating false entries and employing various tactics to ensure the fraudulent transactions went undetected.
The fraudulent activities, which began in September 2019 and ended with Patel’s dismissal in February 2023, funded an extravagant lifestyle. This lifestyle included online gambling, purchasing a luxury condominium and vehicles, personal and friends’ travel expenses, and acquiring expensive personal items. Patel failed to report any of these ill-gotten gains on his tax returns.
The sentencing underscores the FBI’s commitment to combating corporate fraud, as highlighted by Mark Dargis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. Dargis emphasized the bureau’s dedication to protecting American businesses and consumers from the financial burdens of criminal activities.