Criminal Splurge: Ex-Jaguars Employee Allegedly Stole $22M for Luxury Shopping Spree

An ex-employee of the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team has recently been charged with theft following a three-year-long investigation by the US Secret Service. The former employee, demoted in 2018, allegedly stole $22 million from the Jags to fund an extravagant shopping spree. The Florida native was employed within the team’s business operations for twelve years. According to the US Secret Service, the suspect first obtained access to off-shore accounts to move money into before transferring those funds to personal accounts. To cover any discrepancies, they created false invoices and even diverted money into the accounts of family members. Over the course of three years, the suspect allegedly made expensive purchases, including luxury items such as private jets and trips overseas. Other items purchased by the employee included lavish vacations, cars, and jewelry. The former employee has been charged with one count of wire fraud, one count of falsifying business accounts, and one count of money laundering. If convicted of all three offenses, the suspect faces up to eighty years in prison. The Jacksonville Jaguars released a statement saying they are “relieved that justice has been served” in the case. The team assured fans that they have implemented stricter control and monitoring on their finances to prevent any future events like this from occurring. The case serves as a valuable reminder that employees should never take advantage of positions of trust, even if it is just for a shopping spree. Companies should also establish more comprehensive policies and procedures to safeguard their finances and reputation.