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Lester Jones, the Hawks’ former vice president of finance, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a wire fraud charge. Federal prosecutors alleged that he embezzled $3.8 million from the team. Stephen Lew / Imagn Images
Lester Jones, a former top Atlanta Hawks finance executive, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal wire fraud charge after prosecutors alleged that he embezzled $3.8 million from the team.
Jones had been a senior vice president of financial planning and analysis until last season but was indicted in October by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia for using his position to enrich himself on the franchise’s account. Jones had worked for the Hawks for nearly a decade and used his position to build a lavish lifestyle for himself during the latter part of his tenure there, according to the October indictment.
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He used his power of the purse to buy a Porsche, get tickets to concerts and events and spend on trips to Europe, Hawaii, Thailand and other countries. Jones was also in a romantic relationship with a Hawks employee, according to multiple league sources, and used his access to the team’s American Express card to buy her gifts as well.
A lawyer for Jones did not respond to an email seeking comment. A spokesman for the Hawks declined to comment.
Prosecutors said in October that Jones covered up his spending by falsifying financial reports, faking emails to legitimize transactions and ascribing his personal spending to that of the team.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced in March.