Former Exec Sentenced to 3 Years for Embezzling $3.7 Million from NBA Team Owned by Jami Gertz and Billionaire Husband

Twister actress Jami Gertz's husband, businessman Tony Ressler, bought the Atlanta Hawks for an estimated $850 million in 2015, per ESPN.

Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, added in the U.S. Attorney's release that Jones “abused his authority” and leveraged his access to the organization to embezzle millions.

The Hawks declined PEOPLE's request for comment.

Jones started working in the Accounting and Finance Department for the Hawks in 2016, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He was promoted to Senior Vice President of Finance in August 2021, and earlier that year became the sole administrator of the Hawks’ corporate credit card account with American Express.

He oversaw all financial aspects, from payment issues and delays to determining which employees were issued corporate credit cards.

It is not clear when the embezzlement began, but up until around June 2025, Jones was able to rack up approximately $3.7 million.

The funds went to personal expenses, such as $80,000 on international trips to the Bahamas and Thailand, and $99,800 worth of clothing from Saks Fifth Avenue. Jones also purchased jewelry, including a $115,795.01 diamond ring and nearly $22,000 in Omega watches. He used more than $160,000 of the embezzled cash to attend concerts and other events.

Follow your favorite athletes on and off the field with PEOPLE's free sports newsletter — sign up now!

Investigators said one way he managed to pull off the heist was “submitting or directing the submission of dozens of fraudulent expense reimbursement requests to cause the Hawks to reimburse him for fictitious business expenses.”

He also charged "personal expenses to corporate credit cards and covering it up through false representations to other Hawks employees, including to his subordinates in the Accounting and Finance Department.”

In addition to his prison sentence, upon his release, he will be supervised for three years. Jones has also been ordered to pay restitution of $3,898,486.99.

Read the original article on People