US EditionFormer Hawks Finance Chief Gets 3 Years in Prison for Embezzling Millions From Team, Prosecutors Say
Jones used his finance role to submit fake reimbursements and charge personal expenses, including $80,000 in overseas travel and $160,000 in event tickets, prosecutors said.
- Federal officials announced Wednesday that former Atlanta Hawks Senior Vice President of Finance Lester T. Jones Jr. was sentenced to three years and five months in prison for embezzling approximately $3.7 million from the NBA franchise.
- Prosecutors said Jones used his senior position in the Hawks' accounting and finance department to carry out a long-running scheme, becoming sole administrator of the team's American Express corporate credit card account in 2021.
- The stolen funds paid for $99,800 in apparel at Saks Fifth Avenue, a $115,795 diamond ring, $21,888 in Omega watches, $80,000 in overseas travel to the Bahamas and Thailand, and over $160,000 in concert and event tickets.
- In addition to prison time, Jones was ordered to pay nearly $3.9 million in restitution and serve three years of supervised release. "The gravy train's final destination is federal prison," U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said.
- Marlo Graham, an Atlanta-based special agent, said the case shows damage from insider threats, while the Hawks had no comment Wednesday on the sentencing. Jones pleaded guilty to wire fraud in December.
38 Articles
38 Articles
Former Hawks official gets 3-year prison sentence
ATLANTA — Authorities announced Wednesday that former Atlanta Hawks finance executive Lester T. Jones Jr. was sentenced to three years and five months in prison for embezzling approximately $3.7 million from the team through fraudulent expense reimbursement requests and misuse…
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Fmr. Hawks Exec Gets Prison Time After Using Team Money For Jewelry, Trips
Ex-Atlanta Hawks Vice President of Finance Lester T. Jones, Jr. has been sentenced to more than three years in prison ... after embezzling $3.7 million in team money and charging luxurious vacations and jewelry purchases to the company credit card,…
Ex-Hawks executive who embezzled over $3.7M from team sentenced to over 3 years in prison
Authorities announced Wednesday that former Atlanta Hawks finance executive Lester T. Jones Jr. was sentenced to three years and five months in prison for embezzling approximately $3.7 million from the team through fraudulent expense reimbursement requests and misuse of corporate credit cards.
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