A former Jacksonville Jaguars worker serving jail time for stealing greater than $22 million from the NFL franchise is suing a sports activities betting firm he claims preyed on his playing dependancy.
Amit Patel, 31, was sentenced earlier this yr to 6½ years in federal jail after he was discovered responsible of stealing thousands and thousands from the Jaguars by way of the crew’s digital bank card program from 2019 to 2023.
A Jacksonville Jaguars helmet on the sideline earlier than a preseason recreation towards the Miami Dolphins at EverBank Stadium Aug. 26, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Perry Knotts/Getty Pictures)
Prosecutors say Patel used the stolen cash to fund a lavish way of life that included buying properties and chartering non-public jets, however the bulk of the cash was spent on on-line sports activities playing.
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On the time of his sentencing, Patel admitted to having a playing dependancy.
On Tuesday, the previous worker filed a $250 million lawsuit towards FanDuel, alleging the corporate ignored its personal accountable playing and anti-money laundering protocols and was conscious that Patel was an worker of the NFL and that cash was not legitimately acquired.
“The criticism definitely doesn’t declare the addicted gambler is innocent, however the swimsuit does attempt to apportion duty in a method that accounts for FanDuel’s very energetic involvement in his playing dependancy,” Patel’s lawyer, Matthew Litt, informed The Related Press.
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ brand on the sphere previous to an AFC wild-card playoff recreation towards the Los Angeles Chargers at TIAA Financial institution Subject Jan. 14, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Perry Knotts/Getty Pictures)
EX-JAGUARS EMPLOYEE SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 6 YEARS IN PRISON FOR $22 MILLION EMBEZZLEMENT SCHEME
In line with the criticism, Patel transferred $20 million to his FanDuel account and claimed the betting firm gave him over $1.1 million in credit, along with journeys to main sporting occasions. The criticism additionally alleges a private host would contact him as much as 100 occasions a day.
“Defendants actively and deliberately focused and preyed on Plaintiff with incentives, credit, and presents to create, nurture, expedite, and/or exacerbate his dependancy with the one potential consequence that he would finally hit all-time low,” the criticism says, based on ESPN.
On this picture illustration, the FanDuel brand seems on a smartphone. (Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Pictures/LightRocket by way of Getty Pictures)
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The Jaguars fired Patel in early 2023, however he is accused of continuous to spend the stolen cash even after his firing. He pleaded responsible in December to felony wire fraud and unlawful financial transactions.
FanDuel did not instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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