A former Florida real estate executive who stole $1.4 million from his employer and later became the head of a state gambling addiction helpline has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison.
Philip Lee Sullivan, 43, pleaded no contest Oct. 16 to six felony charges tied to an 11-month embezzlement scheme while serving as chief financial officer of Royal American, a Panama City Beach real estate company. A judge sentenced him to 118.5 months, or just under 10 years, in prison, according to The Guardian.
The case drew wider attention because Sullivan later became director of 888-ADMIT-IT, the gambling addiction helpline operated by the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling. According to his LinkedIn profile, which has since been removed, he took
the role in March 2025, about a year after his employment with Royal American ended.
How investigators say he stole $1.4 million
Authorities arrested Sullivan in March 2024 after an internal audit uncovered unauthorized transactions on a company-issued credit card. He was subsequently fired, according to WJHG.
According to testimony, Sullivan used company credit cards to buy gift cards and cash cards online, allowing him to siphon roughly $1.4 million from the company over 11 months. Company officials testified that he manipulated internal safeguards and took steps to conceal the thefts.
Gambling addiction was central to his defense
At sentencing, Sullivan's attorneys argued that a severe gambling addiction drove his actions. Family members asked the court for leniency, while company witnesses contended that the scheme was deliberate and carefully planned, according ABC13.
Defense witnesses also testified that Sullivan's gambling problems began after he was prescribed Adderall around the time of the thefts. His wife, Mallory Sullivan, said she believed the medication contributed to his behavior, according to WMBB. Witnesses for Royal American disputed that account, arguing that the thefts were intentional and concealed.
Shortly before sentencing, Sullivan discussed his addiction publicly on the Addicted Recovery Show podcast. He said he progressed from $25 sports bets to wagers as large as $50,000, losing more than $2 million through gambling. He also spoke about preparing his two sons, ages 12 and 6, for the possibility that he would be sent to prison.
Sullivan's six prison sentences will run concurrently. He was taken into custody after the hearing, received credit for 40 days already served and has 30 days to appeal.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gambling helpline director jailed over $1.4M theft from ex-employer
