Former Hawks executive Jones sentenced to over 3 years in prison for embezzling $3.7M from team

Players run over the red and white Hawks logo on a basketball court
FILE - Players run past the Atlanta Hawks logo during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Sunday, May 16, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Ben Gray, FIle)

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.

Federal prosecutors said in a court filing in November that Jones, a former Hawks accounting executive, used the money to pay for travel, luxury apparel, jewelry, car expenses and tickets to concerts and sporting events.

Jones pleaded guilty to wire fraud in December.