Former Hawks finance chief gets 3 years in prison for embezzling millions from team, prosecutors say

April 30, 2026 - 04:50

A former chief financial officer for the Atlanta Hawks has been sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison after admitting to embezzling millions of dollars from the NBA franchise through a sophisticated scheme involving fake expenses and unauthorized credit card use, federal prosecutors confirmed.

The executive, who oversaw the team’s financial operations, pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and filing a false tax return. According to court documents and statements from prosecutors, the scheme spanned several years, during which the former finance chief submitted fraudulent invoices and reimbursement requests for personal expenses that were never incurred by the team. Additionally, he used corporate credit cards to fund lavish personal purchases, including luxury travel, high-end electronics, and dining, while concealing the transactions as legitimate business costs.

Prosecutors detailed that the total amount stolen exceeded $3.5 million. The embezzlement was uncovered during an internal audit, which prompted the Hawks organization to report the irregularities to federal authorities. In addition to the prison term, the former executive was ordered to pay full restitution to the team and the Internal Revenue Service for the unpaid taxes on the stolen funds.

The sentencing marks the conclusion of a case that highlighted significant lapses in financial oversight within a major professional sports organization. The Hawks organization issued a statement expressing gratitude to law enforcement for their thorough investigation and reaffirming their commitment to maintaining strict financial controls to prevent future misconduct. The former finance chief will also serve two years of supervised release following his prison term.