The individual from the Jaguars organization who unlawfully took $22 million from the team exhibited remarkable audacity. One might anticipate such ill-gotten gains to be lavished on extravagant items akin to those pursued by the characters in “The Italian Job.” However, in the realm of Parrot Heads, the preferred avenue seemed to be indulging wildly at the sportsbook and splurging the remainder on peculiar online purchases.
In a recent court submission, federal prosecutors outlined Patel’s extravagant spending, reminiscent of a modern version of “Blank Check.” This included hefty sums: $600,000 on Apple products, $47,113 for a Tiger Woods putter, $40,000 at Amazon and Best Buy, $140,412 on eBay, and notably, $9,477 at the Jaguars team shop and stadium club.
Considering Patel’s position within the organization, one might question why he didn’t seek discounted or complimentary merchandise. Furthermore, spending $2,200 on a game-used Trevor Lawrence jersey seems excessive when alternatives such as acquiring jerseys from the locker room after a game could have sufficed, or simply asking for them. There are likely plenty of willing participants in such activities.
A word of advice to the Jaguars: If your financial manager is recklessly spending thousands at the team shop or displaying excessive merchandise at the stadium club, it might be prudent to scrutinize your financial records. However, perhaps they mistakenly assumed Patel’s extravagant spending was merely a byproduct of his income, possibly from driving for Uber to pay off his Tesla.
Patel’s lawyer, Alex King, who received $275,000 from the surplus funds, attributed his client’s actions to a gambling addiction, with “99 percent of the misappropriated funds” being used to cover gambling losses. Yet, equating this to leniency for a drunk driver causing harm due to alcoholism seems dubious.
However, this incident could be seen as nearly victimless. With Shahid Khan, the owner of the Jaguars, also owning AEW and an EPL club, it’s unlikely the financial impact was severe. Additionally, considering Nick Foles’ $88 million contract, albeit legally binding, this case almost resembles a heist.
Furthermore, with the NFL embracing sportsbooks, having an employee exploit the franchise for $22 million adds a layer of irony and amusement. Patel’s extravagant spending at the Ponte Vedra Beach Inn & Club, including initiation fees and massages, only adds to the surreal nature of the situation.
If given $22 million, one might be inclined to invest in property far from Florida and refrain from squandering it on trivial items like sports memorabilia. After all, what purpose does a Tiger Woods putter serve beyond ostentatious display?