ATLANTA — A former finance executive for the Atlanta Hawks, Lester T. Jones Jr., has been formally charged with wire fraud, accused of orchestrating a scheme that may have siphoned off over $3.8 million from the NBA team. Federal prosecutors revealed in a recent court filing that Jones misappropriated funds to finance personal luxuries including travel, high-end clothing, jewelry, car expenses, and tickets to concerts and sports events.
According to the court documents, Jones allegedly initiated fraudulent reimbursement requests to American Express that totaled nearly $230,000, misrepresenting them as legitimate expenses incurred during the NBA Emirates Cup at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. The scheme reportedly involved the fabrication of dozens of expense claims, complete with fake invoices, allowing him to charge millions in personal costs to corporate credit cards.
The extravagant expenditures cited in the filing included high-profile trips to luxury destinations such as the Bahamas, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Las Vegas, and Switzerland, coupled with purchases from Louis Vuitton and Porsche vehicles.
As of now, efforts to reach Jones for comment have been unsuccessful. He appeared in court on October 29, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bond. The judge overseeing the case has instructed Jones to inform the court within 15 days regarding his decision to proceed to trial or accept a guilty plea.
Jones had been a fixture in the Hawks’ accounting and finance department since March 2016, eventually rising to the position of senior vice president for finance in August 2021. In this capacity, he managed the team’s corporate credit card account and oversaw the electronic expense reimbursement system. Prosecutors argue that prior to July 2024, he exploited the system’s lack of transparency to manipulate expense verifications for his personal benefit.
This case highlights the importance of robust financial oversight within organizations, especially in positions of significant trust and responsibility.