Working with an NBA franchise is a dream job for many people, but it’s clearly not enough for some. The latest scandal involves a former Atlanta Hawks executive, who used his power to embezzle large sums of money from the franchise.
The Hawks hired Lester Jones to their finance and accounting department in 2016. He then became the Senior Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis. In a recent report, though, it was revealed that Jones was no longer with the organization after using roughly $3.8 million for his own personal expenses.
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An Atlanta native, Jones has been charged with fraud in an indictment brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. The allegations list the various things he used team funds for, and the list is truly egregious.
“Jones was in a romantic relationship with another team employee, multiple league sources said, and he used some of the money he is accused of stealing to buy her expensive gifts,” claimed a report from The Athletic.
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Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague is guarded by Boston Celtics guard Terry Rozier near the Atlanta Hawks logo. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-Imagn Images
“He controlled the team’s American Express card account and could authorize charges. He reportedly used that power to spend on trips to the Bahamas, Hawaii, Thailand, Switzerland, and other countries; paid for a Porsche; and bought tickets to concerts and other events. Now, he is facing a count of federal wire fraud.”
Jones has pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on a $10,000 bond. This is a serious scandal for the Hawks’ front office, considering how powerful an executive Jones was. On the court and off it, it’s not a good time for the Atlanta Hawks right now.
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