Overview
- Lester T. Jones Jr., the team’s former senior vice president of finance, is charged with one count of federal wire fraud tied to about $3.8 million in alleged losses from 2017 through June 2025.
- Jones pleaded not guilty, was released on a $10,000 bond, and a federal judge ordered him to state within 15 days whether he will pursue a plea or go to trial as Speedy Trial deadlines are paused.
- Court filings say Jones was American Express’ primary contact for the franchise, held multiple corporate cards, and used the Workday reimbursement platform to obscure transactions routed between Georgia and a server in Virginia.
- Prosecutors cite a nearly $230,000 fabricated Wynn Las Vegas invoice in January 2025, allegedly supported by an altered AmEx email, as a core example of the scheme.
- Alleged spending includes luxury travel to the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Switzerland, and Thailand, purchases from Louis Vuitton and jewelry, Porsche-related costs, and gifts to a romantic partner who also left the team; the Hawks-backed audit helped uncover the activity and the team has declined comment.