Amit Patel, a former employee of the Jacksonville Jaguars, was handed a substantial sentence of 78 months in prison on Tuesday for his involvement in a significant fraud scheme that drained more than $22 million from the NFL team.
The sentencing occurred in a Jacksonville federal courtroom, where Patel, aged 31, was found guilty of misusing the team’s virtual credit card program, engaging in wire fraud, and executing illegal money transactions.
Patel, who had previously managed the team’s finances, confessed to his crimes in December, acknowledging his role in the fraudulent activities.
Former Jaguars Staff (Credits: USA Today)
Despite returning $1.89 million, he still owed over $21 million in restitution, a debt the judge noted would likely remain unpaid due to Patel’s felony conviction.
During the sentencing hearing, Patel showed no visible reaction as Judge Henry Lee Adams Jr. handed down the verdict, including three years of supervised release following his imprisonment.
Prosecutors argued against a reduced sentence, highlighting the complexity and scale of Patel’s fraud, which went undetected for over three years and involved numerous false transactions.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Coolican emphasized the importance of imposing a significant sentence, stating that leniency would only encourage further criminal behavior.
He warned against sending the message that stealing millions of dollars could result in minimal consequences, stressing the need for accountability in cases of financial fraud.
The sentencing of Amit Patel underscores the severity with which the justice system addresses large-scale financial crimes and serves as a deterrent to others who may consider engaging in similar illicit activities.
