Former Atlanta Hawks finance executive Lester T. Jones Jr. has been sentenced to three years and five months in prison for embezzling roughly $3.7 million from the team, according to authorities.
Prosecutors’ first court filing was in November, when they accused Jones of spending the money on personal expenses ranging from luxury jewelry to concert tickets and vacations.
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The 46-year-old pleaded guilty to wire fraud a month later.
Jones worked in the Hawks’ finance department from March 2016 through June 2025.
Prosecutors says he defrauded the team by submitting falsified requests for expense reimbursements. These reports claimed that Jones spent personal money on business expenses, prompting the Hawks to pay him back for those falsified purchases.
“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. “But, for Jones and others who abuse their employers’ trust to embezzle substantial funds, the gravy train’s final destination is federal prison.”
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
