A former employee of the Jacksonville Jaguars was recently indicted for stealing over $22 million from the team over a five-year period for a luxury shopping spree.
The employee, 42-year-old Kirk F. Moton, was employed by the team for more than 15 years and was responsible for their financial accounts. According to court documents, from 2013-2018 Moton fraudulently diverted millions of dollars from the Jaguars’ payroll accounts and transferred them to his own private accounts.
Moton used the money to purchase luxury items such as expensive cars, jewelry, real estate, and a yacht. He owned over $8 million in property alone, all bought with the stolen money.
The Jacksonville Jaguars first noticed the mismanagement of funds in June 2018 when they asked an outside firm to investigate where the money was going. After a more in-depth look, errors were found in Moton’s handling of the accounts and an audit revealed that Moton had indeed stolen the money.
Moton has been charged with wire fraud and other charges. He pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. If convicted, he could face decades in prison.
This case is a sad story for a beloved sports team and its fans. Moton’s actions have left the Jaguars financially damaged and the team now has to take steps to ensure similar breaches do not occur in the future. It is heartbreaking that someone could take advantage of their position to steal from the sports team and its dedicated fans.
