JACKSONVILLE, Fla.– A previous Jacksonville Jaguars monetary supervisor who pled guilty to taking more than $22 million from the NFL franchise through its virtual charge card program was sentenced to 78 months in federal jail Tuesday.
Judge Henry Lee Adams Jr. sentenced Amit Patel, 31, in U.S. District Court in Jacksonville. Patel, using a charcoal match and a burgundy tie, revealed no feeling inside the jam-packed court house as the penalty was bied far.
District attorneys stated Patel has actually returned $1.89 million, leaving his restitution tab at $21,132,454.40– a figure the judge acknowledged he will never ever have the ability to repay following a felony conviction. Patel pled guilty in December to one count of wire scams and one count of making a prohibited financial deal.
The judge sentenced Patel to 78 months on each count, to run simultaneously. It was the most affordable number under sentencing standards. He likewise got 3 years of monitored release.
Patel's legal representative argued for a lighter sentence Tuesday, requesting for no greater than 60 months. District attorneys countered and comprehensive how Patel utilized “expert details” to go undetected for 40 months (in between 2019 and 2023) while making numerous deceptive deals.
“If he can take $22 million and get probation, he's going to do it once again,” assistant U.S. lawyer Michael J. Coolican argued. “He's a clever guy and will discover a method. … If it's reported on SportsCenter tonight you can take $22 million and get a low-ball sentence, a slap on the wrist, you much better look out.”
Patel had approximately 2 lots family and friends members in the court house. 4 of them spoke on his behalf: his older bro, an uncle, a previous high school instructor and his sweetheart.
Patel cleaned away tears as his bro detailed his more youthful brother or sister's alcoholic abuse and betting dependency, as his uncle informed the court what a jail sentence would do to Patel's widowed mom, as his previous instructor called him a design trainee and as his sweetheart spoke about standing by him through weekly alcohol and gaming dependency conferences and needing to take a task as an Uber motorist.
Patel closed the hearing and stated he began bet 14 years back.
“I stand before you humiliated, embarrassed and dissatisfied for my actions,” he stated. “It started little and after that grew out of control so huge that my only idea was to bet my escape of it. In the end, I constantly believed that big win was ideal around the corner and would repair all my issues.”
Patel stated he is nearing one year of sobriety.
“Part of my healing procedure is apologizing,” Patel stated. “However, that appears difficult provided the number of individuals I've pull down.”
Megha Parekh, the Jaguars' primary legal officer, checked out a victim-impact declaration to the court.
“Speaking on behalf of the Jaguars, do understand that we wish to proceed and forgive,
