A former executive with the Atlanta Hawks is heading to federal prison after authorities uncovered a years-long scheme that siphoned millions from the organization’s finances. Lester T. Jones Jr., once a senior figure in the team’s accounting department, was sentenced to three years and five months behind bars for embezzling roughly $3.7 million through fraudulent reimbursements and unauthorized corporate spending. According to the Department of Justice , Jones exploited his control over the Hawks’ expense systems and corporate credit cards to fund a high-end lifestyle. The 46-year-old submitted dozens of fake reimbursement requests and charged personal purchases directly to company accounts, disguising them as legitimate business expenses. His activity stretched from early 2021 through mid-2025, overlapping with his rise to senior vice president of finance. Jones joined the Hawks organization in 2016 and climbed the ranks to become one of its top financial decision-makers.…