Former Atlanta Hawks Executive Admits to Wire Fraud Charges

December 17, 2025 - 07:09

In a significant legal development, Lester Jones, the former senior vice president of finance for the Atlanta Hawks, has pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud. This plea comes after he was indicted in October for engaging in a scheme that involved years of concealed personal expenditures.

Jones admitted to misappropriating funds from the organization for his personal use, which included unauthorized transactions that went undetected for an extended period. The fraudulent activities not only breached the trust placed in him by the Hawks but also raised serious concerns regarding financial oversight within the organization.

As a result of his guilty plea, Jones now faces potential penalties that could include substantial fines and a lengthy prison sentence. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ethical conduct in financial management, particularly within professional sports organizations where large sums of money are involved. The Hawks organization has since stated that they are committed to ensuring transparency and integrity in their financial operations moving forward.