Former Hawks finance chief gets 41-month sentence for $3.7 million embezzlement
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ATLANTA — A federal judge on April 29, 2026, ordered former Atlanta Hawks senior vice president for finance Lester T. Jones Jr. to serve three years and five months in prison for stealing roughly $3.7 million from the NBA franchise.
Jones, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in December after prosecutors detailed a scheme that ran from March 2016 through June 2025, when he was employed in the team’s accounting and finance department. He became senior vice president in August 2021, giving him control of the organization’s American Express corporate card and its electronic expense reimbursement system.
According to court records, Jones submitted dozens of fake expense reports and charged personal purchases to corporate cards. Investigators said the money covered international travel to the Bahamas and Thailand totaling about $80,000, $99,800 in Saks Fifth Avenue apparel, a $115,795.01 diamond ring, $21,888.90 in Omega watches, and more than $160,000 for concert and event tickets.
“Jones turned his dream job as a high-ranking executive for the Atlanta Hawks into an opportunity to steal the team’s funds, purchasing luxury apparel, jewelry, watches, and trips for himself,” U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said in a statement announcing the sentence.
FBI special agent Marlo Graham called the case “a reminder of the significant damage that can be caused by insider threats within an organization,” adding that the bureau “remains committed to investigating and disrupting financial crimes at every level.”
The Hawks declined to comment on the sentencing.
Source: ESPN.com
