Convicted embezzler and former Jacksonville Jaguars accountant Amit Patel is suing FanDuel for $250 million. In filings made at the U.S. District for the Southern District of New York, Patel accused FanDuel; its corporate owner Flutter Entertainment; and Boyd Gaming of enticing him to spend more than $20 million of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ money on sports betting and daily fantasy football.
In the suit, Patel alleges that FanDuel host Brett Krause enticed, encouraged and harangued Patel into spending money that wasn’t his. “Defendants actively and intentionally targeted and preyed on Plaintiff with incentives, credits, and gifts to create, nurture, expedite, and/or exacerbate his addiction with the only possible outcome that he would ultimately hit rock bottom,” Patel’s attorney, Matthew Litt, wrote in filings reported on by ESPN.com.
The suit also alleges that FanDuel was not in compliance with anti-money laundering laws, and ignored responsible gaming practices during Patel’s betting spree. Patel’s legal filings don’t mention the fact that Patel used his access to a Jacksonville Jaguars’ credit card to purchase luxury goods, including a $95,000 Patek Phillipe watch, luxury travel accommodations, and sports collectibles.
Krause’s attorney, Theresa Trzaskoma responded to the lawsuit on ESPN.com saying, “Amit Patel is a convicted fraudster and it’s no surprise his complaint is full of misrepresentations. He lied about his life to Brett Krause, who at the time was a low-level FanDuel employee. Mr. Patel defrauded Mr. Krause, just as he did the Jaguars.”
Patel is currently being sued by the Jacksonville Jaguars for $66 million in an attempt to recover some of the losses from his crime spress. He is also currently serving a six and a half year prison term for his crimes.