The Jacksonville Jaguars have taken legal action against a former employee who is currently serving time in prison for embezzling $22 million from the team's virtual credit card program. The lawsuit, filed in Duval County Circuit Court, is seeking over $66 million in damages, triple the amount stolen by the individual, who admitted to using the funds to support a gambling addiction and extravagant lifestyle.
The perpetrator, aged 31, was sentenced to more than six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and making an illegal monetary transaction. He was also directed to repay the Jaguars for the stolen funds. The individual held a position overseeing the company's financial statements and budgets, as well as managing the virtual credit card program used by authorized employees for business expenses.
Through his role, the individual engaged in fraudulent activities by duplicating and inflating transactions for various items such as catering, airfare, and hotel charges. He also fabricated transactions to appear legitimate. The thefts occurred over a period spanning from September 2019 to February 2023, with suspicions arising when a bet he placed violated NFL gambling policies.
Aside from gambling, the individual reportedly used the embezzled money to purchase luxury items including a Tesla car, a Nissan pickup truck, a country club membership, a condominium worth $265,000 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, concert and sports tickets, and a watch valued at $95,000. The lawsuit mentions that the Jaguars managed to sell the condominium as part of forfeiture proceedings.
As of now, the individual's attorney from the criminal case has not responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit. No additional legal representation for the individual has been listed in court records.
