A former Hawks senior government is dealing with embezzlement fees after federal prosecutors allege he ran a years-long scheme to bamboozle the NBA franchise that employed him.
Lester Jones was charged with fraud and embezzling $3.8 million from the Hawks after a team-backed audit discovered proof of his shady dealings, The Athletic reported.
Federal prosecutors introduced an indictment towards Jones final week. He pleaded not responsible to the fees earlier than being launched on $10,000 bond.
Jones had labored for the group’s finance division for practically a decade, and prosecutors allege he used his function with the Hawks to create a lavish way of life on the dime of the NBA crew.
Jones managed the Hawks’ American Specific card account and allegedly licensed a number of company playing cards for his personal use.
Among the many alleged cases that Jones swindled the group, prosecutors claimed he had the Hawks repay an American Specific bank card invoice of $229,968.76 final January, telling the crew it was for a keep on the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas.
Besides, it’s alleged, that there was no invoice from the Wynn Resort.
Jones, now a former worker, can also be alleged to have spent a number of the cash he’s accused of taking from the crew to purchase costly presents for a separate — and likewise former — Hawks worker that he was seeing on the time, The Athletic reported.
And as a part of his scheme, prosecutors allege that he used his place to pay for a Porsche, journeys to the Bahamas, Hawaii, Thailand, Switzerland — amongst different areas — and live performance tickets.
With a purpose to cowl his tracks, Jones allegedly faked emails and altered studies.
The Hawks and the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Northern District of Georgia declined to remark to The Athletic, and an legal professional for the ex-Hawks exec didn’t return a request for remark from the outlet.
