An ex-employee of the Jacksonville Jaguars football team was recently charged with carrying out an elaborate scheme to steal from the organization. According to reports, the woman, identified as Tera Patrick, allegedly siphoned off approximately 22 million dollars from the Jaguars in a luxurious shopping spree.
The scheme reportedly involved Patrick forging signatures for payments to luxury retailers, including designer fashion stores and high-end auto dealers. According to the prosecutors involved with the case, she did all of this without the permission of the Jacksonville Jaguars organization and may have done so over several years.
Patrick faces charges of grand larceny and money laundering as she is accused of literally shopping the team’s bank accounts dry. As the details continue to be revealed, it is stunning to consider just how much money was actually taken.
The case serves to highlight the importance of organizations adequately monitoring their financial accounts and protecting their resources from possible embezzlement. In the case of the Jacksonville Jaguars, their 22 million dollars could have gone a long way to helping the team become a better organization, so the implications of the theft are both numerous and far-reaching.
While no amount of money can replace the stolen funds, the team and its supporters alike can take comfort in knowing that justice is being served. Patrick is currently being held without bail and has pled not guilty to the charges. It is yet to be determined what the final outcome of the case will be, but if convicted, she could face a lengthy prison sentence.
The shocking case of a former employee taking millions from the Jaguars has brought to light the need for stringent financial protections. It remains to be seen what the final outcome of the case will be, but no matter the outcome, it is clear that organizations must take steps to secure their resources.
