Former Atlanta Hawks Executive Sentenced for $3.7 Million Embezzlement Scheme
ATLANTA, Ga. — A former Atlanta Hawks executive has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after admitting to embezzling millions from the organization through fraudulent reimbursements and misuse of corporate credit cards, federal prosecutors said.
Lester T. Jones Jr., 46, was sentenced to three years and five months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud on Dec. 16, 2025. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay $3,898,486.99 in restitution.
According to prosecutors, Jones joined the Hawks’ accounting and finance department in 2016 and was promoted to Senior Vice President of Finance in August 2021, becoming the organization’s top accounting executive beneath the chief financial officer.
Authorities said Jones used his position and access to financial systems to carry out the scheme from early 2021 through June 2025. As administrator of the team’s corporate American Express program, he had oversight of credit card issuance, account activity and payment issues. He also oversaw the organization’s expense reimbursement system.
Prosecutors said Jones exploited that authority in two primary ways. He submitted or directed the submission of fraudulent expense reimbursement requests for fictitious business costs and charged personal expenses to corporate credit cards, concealing them through false documentation and misrepresentations to other employees.
Investigators said the stolen funds were used on personal purchases, including approximately $80,000 in international travel to destinations such as the Bahamas and Thailand, nearly $100,000 in apparel, a diamond ring valued at more than $115,000, luxury watches totaling more than $21,000 and over $160,000 in tickets to concerts and events.
“This case underscores the significant damage that can be caused by insider threats within an organization,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham.
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said Jones abused his position of trust within the organization to fund a lavish lifestyle, adding that such crimes carry serious consequences.
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bernita Malloy.
