Last week, former Atlanta Hawks senior vice president of finance Lester T. Jones Jr. found himself in serious legal trouble. Authorities in Georgia charged him with wire fraud, alleging he orchestrated a scheme that siphoned off $3.8 million from the team.

According to the charges, Jones manipulated financial documents and doctored emails to misuse his Hawks corporate card, funding lavish trips to destinations like Hawaii, Thailand, and Switzerland, while also splurging on high-end Louis Vuitton clothing and jewelry.

But who is Lester Jones, and what exactly is his connection to the Hawks?

Who is Lester Jones? Early life & education

Lester Jones, 46, grew up in a small town in Mississippi. Reflecting on his early life, he shared, while talking to Pro Sports Assembly, “I come from a small town in Mississippi um and I don’t think that uh the odds were necessarily you know in my favor but at the same time uh my parents instilled in me hard work ethic morals values and so it’s coming from humble beginnings but being able to put in the work to achieve whatever it is that you want to achieve and being a minority no matter how you look at it especially in the finance space um there are not a lot of minorities that hold a lot of these roles.”

From these roots, he carried a sense of discipline and determination that would guide him through a remarkable career in finance. Jones pursued his academic foundation at Xavier University of Louisiana, earning a B.S. in Accounting from 1997 to 2001.

With this degree in hand, he quickly moved into the professional world, starting as Audit Staff for The Trustee for The Julius Trust and then moving through roles at PwC as Senior Auditor, Aprio, LLP as Auditor, and The Home Depot in financial controls.

Each step offered him a chance to refine his expertise, building a solid reputation in auditing, financial controls, and business consulting.

Lester Jones’ career at the Atlanta Hawks

Lester T. Jones Jr. held a prominent role with the Atlanta Hawks for nearly a decade, serving in the team’s corporate offices from 2016 to 2025. Rising through the ranks, he became senior vice president of finance and one of the team’s top accounting executives, second only to the CFO.

Over nearly a decade, he played a pivotal role in shaping the team’s financial strategies, leveraging his years of auditing and financial planning experience to oversee significant operations in the sports sector. His role gave him broad access to the Hawks’ internal financial systems, a responsibility that demanded trust and integrity.

However, federal prosecutors allege that trust was exploited. Jones is accused of orchestrating a scheme to divert millions of dollars for personal use, including extravagant trips, luxury goods, concert tickets, and even a Porsche, all paid for with the Hawks’ corporate cards.

One example cited in court involved a $229,968 expense for a supposed franchise stay at the Wynn in Las Vegas, which prosecutors claim was actually for Jones’ personal spending.

Jones allegedly doctored emails from American Express to make the charges appear legitimate and used the team’s reimbursement system to process nearly $230,000 in fraudulent payments.

The charges, filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, accuse Jones of wire fraud for using “false and fraudulent pretenses” to obtain money through interstate communications. If convicted, wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, though his likely sentence could be shorter if his record remains clean.

Federal prosecutors are also seeking forfeiture of property and funds linked to the alleged fraud. Jones has 15 days to notify the court whether he will proceed to trial or enter a guilty plea, and the Hawks have declined to comment on the matter.

Lester Jones’ skills, leadership, style & achievements

Jones’ rise through the Hawks’ ranks tells a story of ambition and leadership. Starting as vice president, he advanced to senior vice president of finance, a position that elevated him among the top executives in the organization. His efforts didn’t go unnoticed.

In 2023, he was honored with the Medal of Leadership as a Visionary Leader, and just two years later, he received the 2025 Rising Leader Award from the Pro Sports Assembly. That award celebrates pro sports executives early in their careers who have already made a major impact, recognizing individuals with an exceptional commitment to excellence.

Despite his achievements and recognition in the sports world, Jones’ legacy is now overshadowed by serious legal troubles. Once celebrated for his leadership and vision, he faces a stark reckoning that could define his career for years to come.