Atlanta Hawks executive embezzlement $3.8 million
A former senior finance executive of the Atlanta Hawks, Lester T. Jones Jr., has been indicted on charges that he embezzled more than $3.8 million from the NBA franchise over a multi-year period.
According to federal prosecutors, Jones who rose to become Senior Vice President for Finance used his control over the team’s expense-reimbursement system and corporate credit cards to funnel large sums into personal expenditures. He is accused of submitting fabricated or altered invoices and expense reports, and of mis-classifying personal spending as legitimate business costs.
Some of the luxury expenses cited in the indictment include travel to international destinations such as the Bahamas, Thailand, Switzerland, Hawaii and Las Vegas; purchases of high-end apparel and jewelry from luxury brands; Porsche car expenses; and tickets to concerts and sporting events. One highlighted example is a nearly $230,000 charge purporting to be for lodging at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas during a team trip, which prosecutors claim was entirely falsified.
Jones had been with the Hawks in the accounting and finance department since March 2016 and became SVP of Finance in August 2021. His alleged scheme reportedly continued into June 2025 before coming to light.
In his initial court appearance, Jones pleaded not guilty and was released on bond. The court has ordered him to notify whether he will proceed to trial or enter a guilty plea within fifteen days.
This case underscores how vulnerabilities in internal company controls such as expense-reimbursement oversight and corporate card monitoring can be exploited, even by senior executives. Many observers note that the alleged long duration of the scheme suggests insufficient auditing or supervisory checks within the organization.
