Bank robbers used stolen money to buy suite for Hawks games

At least somebody was willing to pay to see the Atlanta Hawks from 2009 to 2013.

Four men from the Atlanta area have been sentenced to federal prison for stealing more than $4 million from the Bank of New York Mellon, money they used to, among other things, purchase a suite for Hawks games.

While the Hawks, who spent the past few seasons near the bottom of the league in attendance, surely appreciated the business, this probably isn't how they wanted to get it.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Alexis Stevens has more on the case:

In December 2009, (Zachary) Vaughn wired $4.3 million from the Bank of New York to a bank account in the name of a business owned by (Derek) Spinks, prosecutors said. Spinks and (William) Leese then invested the money in C&L Logistics and Transportation, LLC, a business owned by Leese and defendant (Harry) Cobb. In January 2010, the defendants arranged to move the $4 million to a C&L bank account that was controlled by Leese and Cobb.

The four used the stolen money to buy personal vehicles, a suite at Hawks games, gold and trips, Horn’s office said. Vaughn continually moved client funds from one account to another so that the original theft went undetected until 2013, when he left his employment with the bank.

Immediately spending stolen money in such a high-profile way seems kind of silly and runs contrary to the unwritten rules of the trade, but not all criminals can be Albert Spaggiari.