Former Hawks Exec Indicted in $3.8M Fraud

Lester Jones, former senior vice president of financial planning and analysis for the Atlanta Hawks, was indicted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia on federal wire fraud charges alleging he embezzled about $3.8 million from the franchise over nearly a decade. Prosecutors say Jones controlled the team’s American Express account, issued corporate cards to himself, and concealed personal spending with falsified expense reports, doctored vendor invoices and altered emails, including a $229,968.76 Wynn bill tied to a team trip that never occurred. Alleged purchases paid with team funds include international trips, a Porsche, concert tickets and expensive gifts for a Hawks employee with whom he was romantically involved. The scheme was uncovered by a team-backed audit; Jones was fired, pleaded not guilty and was released on a $10,000 bond. An attorney for Jones did not respond to requests for comment and the Hawks declined to comment; the indictment has prompted scrutiny of the franchise’s internal controls and could trigger broader leaguewide reviews.