Lester T. Jones jailed after theft from franchise owned by Jami Gertz

A former high-ranking executive for the Atlanta Hawks, Lester T. Jones, Jr., has been sentenced to three years and five months in prison for embezzling approximately $3.7 million.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced the sentence for the 46-year-old, who previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud in December 2025.

The court heard how Jones exploited his senior position to fund a lavish lifestyle, including international holidays to Thailand and the Bahamas, high-priced jewellery, and designer apparel.

"Jones turned his dream job as a high-ranking executive for the Atlanta Hawks into an opportunity to steal the team’s funds, purchasing luxury apparel, jewellery, watches, and trips for himself," stated U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg.

Between 2016 and June 2025, Jones bypassed internal controls by submitting fraudulent reimbursement requests and misusing corporate credit cards.

Prosecutors highlighted specific purchases, including a diamond ring valued at over $115,000 and nearly $22,000 spent on Omega watches.

Marlo Graham of the FBI noted that Jones "abused his authority" to leverage access to the organisation’s finances.

The NBA franchise is notably owned by billionaire businessman Tony Ressler and his wife, actress Jami Gertz. Jones, who rose to become the Senior Vice President of Finance in 2021, must now serve three years of supervised release and pay $3,898,486.99 in restitution.

While the Hawks declined to comment on the sentencing, the organisation remains focused on its sporting operations and community initiatives following this breach of corporate trust.