Ex-Hawks Finance Exec Arrested After Embezzling $3.8M From Team For Porsche & Holidays

In another bad news day for the league, a former Atlanta Hawks executive was arrested and charged with fraud and embezzling $3.8 million from the franchise, The Athletic has revealed.

“Jones, 46, of Atlanta, was charged with fraud and embezzling $3.8 million from the NBA franchise, according to an indictment brought last week by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. Evidence of his alleged crimes was uncovered through a team-backed audit, multiple league sources told The Athletic.”

Daniel Jones reportedly came under scrutiny after submitting a payment request to the team’s accounting department earlier this year. In January, Jones allegedly asked for the organization to cover a $229,968.76 American Express charge for what he claimed was a team-related stay at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas.

The expense appeared legitimate at the time, coinciding with the Hawks’ trip to the city for the NBA Cup semifinals, and the payment was approved.

However, federal prosecutors later said the hotel stay never happened and that the bill itself was fabricated. They allege the request was part of a broader, years-long scheme in which Jones siphoned money from the franchise during his nearly ten-year tenure.

Jones had been romantically involved with another Hawks employee and is accused of using stolen funds to shower her with luxury gifts, The Athletic says.

Prosecutors claim Jones exploited his control over the team’s American Express accounts to fund a lavish lifestyle. With authority to issue and approve charges, he allegedly created multiple corporate cards for personal use, spending on international vacations to destinations like the Bahamas, Hawaii, Thailand, and Switzerland.

He also reportedly bought a Porsche, along with tickets to concerts and other high-end events.

Federal authorities further allege Jones went to significant lengths to conceal his actions, altering financial records, forging emails to legitimize expenses, and misclassifying his personal charges as team-related costs. He is now facing a federal wire fraud charge.

He has since been dismissed from his position, pleaded not guilty and was released on a $10,000 bond last week. His attorney did not respond to requests for comment.

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