former stonecrest mayor's accomplice pleads guilty to felony

One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. Former Mayor of Stonecrest sentenced to prison for stealing COVID-19 relief funds ATLANTA - Jason Lary, the former Mayor of the City of Stonecrest, has been sentenced for using his elected office to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief funds allocated to the city. We will continue to uncover and prosecute those who exploit government positions and COVID relief programs to fuel their own greed., CARES Act funds were intended to help people and businesses harmed by the pandemic, not to line the pockets of public officials entrusted to lead a community, said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. The former mayor of Stonecrest who pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges is making a punishment request. The first mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to the federal charges earlier this year. Court documents show he was arraigned on the charges after relief funds expected to be allocated to the Stonecrest Cares Program and Small Business Program never made it to the city initiatives. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Stonecrest was required to spend the relief funds in accordance with the CARES Act. The FBI and prosecutors found that $108,000 of relief funds were used to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront home owned by Lary, while another $7,600 was used to pay college tuition and rent for Boones son. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. He declined to say what type of cancer he is battling but said it seems to be resurfacing for the third time. During a struggle to implement new city manager, Lary said he was facing what could be his third battle with cancer. Stonecrest received $6.2 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds, and the two are accused of taking some of the funds for themselves. Stonecrest residents that Jones talked to were outraged. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. He explained he needs to take some time to work with doctors and care for himself. A bookkeeper and spouse of a former Stonecrest official accepted a plea deal in federal court Friday afternoon for participating in the same fraud scheme that brought down the city's founding. Jason Lary, 60, of Stonecrest, Georgia, has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. The plan also provided $5 million to the COVID-19 CARES Act Small Business Program (Small Business Program). The former Mayor of Stonecrest Jason Lary pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing COVID-19 relief funds that were supposed to go to struggling businesses. Lock City leaders have not chosen a specific location for the special election to be held. 2023 FOX Television Stations, resignation went into effect at 10 a.m. Wednesday, he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief. Lary issued a statement to FOX 5 about the censure: "My frustrations have boiled over with this council. Instead, $108,000 dollars were transferred to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront propertyowned by the former mayor. If you have additional information, pictures, or video email newstipsatlanta@fox.com. "It's time for me to retire from politics and focus on my health," Lary said. Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary on Wednesday pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft and conspiracy to commit federal program theft, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. (Art by Richard Miller). He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. He resigned his post on Jan. 4 and accepted a plea deal the next day for concocting the scheme. The potential stakes are high for offenders who break new guidelines. Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. The government said no marketing was ever done. Boone, who wrote the bulk of the checks using the stolen funds, agreed with that Friday in court. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. "Mr. Lary has serious health challenges and at age 60 the Defendant finds himself facing a legacy of criminal history that is and was 'money motivated,' and not violence or physical harm to others, nor drug related," his legal team writes in a sentencing memorandum filed with the court. Jason Lary, who announced his resignation as the mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal. The 45-minute Zoom call in which he announced his resignation was hacked and briefly displayed a video game and then a brief snippet of pornography. The indictment alleges that Smith stole more than $450,000 in Social Security Administration Northern District of Georgia ATLANTA Jason Lary, the former Mayor of the City of Stonecrest, has been sentenced for using his elected office to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief funds allocated to the city. U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash sentenced Stonecrest ex-mayor Jason Lary to 57 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay nearly $120,000 in restitution. We have no response about the Mayors resignation, city officials said. Mayor Jason Lary and others in the city of Stonecrest is charged with mishandling 650,000 of CARES money meant for the citizens of Stonecrest. Former Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary is met by FOX 5 I-Team Reporter Randy Travis as he walks into the federal courthouse in Atlanta to enter a guilty plea to stealing CARES Act money on Jan.. The City Council voted Monday to set the election date, determine qualifying information and formally ask ask the DeKalb County Board of Registrations and Elections to run the election. 100 people involved in a total of $26 million in CARES Act fraud. BREAKING: A bookkeeper and spouse of a former Stonecrest official accepted a plea deal in federal court Friday afternoon for participating in the same fraud scheme that brought down the city's. Until a new mayor is elected, the mayors responsibilities will be handled by the mayor pro tem. "I came back too early from my second round with cancer. At least two candidates have publicly said theyll run to be the citys next mayor. His sentencing hearing has been set for May 2. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call Tuesday.. 2022-02-12 - By Zachary Hansen zachary.hansen@ajc.com. He said he had surgery in late December 2020. Then, Lary caused the city to enter a contract with MPRC to disburse the relief funds as directed by Stonecrest. A bookkeeper and spouse of a former Stonecrest official accepted a plea deal in federal court Friday afternoon for participating in the same fraud scheme that brought down the city's founding mayor. accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. Jason Lary stole more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds meant to help the. Lary was also ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution as well. Clarence Boone, 60, of Decatur, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal program theft and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2023. With Lary now 60 years old and with no criminal history, his legal team requested that house arrest, community service and statutory required supervision be considered for his sentence. "I did the best I could do with what we had in place.". U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash sentenced Stonecrest ex-mayor Jason Lary to 57 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay nearly $120,000 in restitution. Richard B. Russell Federal Building Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash sentenced Stonecrest ex-mayor Jason Lary to 57 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay nearly $120,000 in restitution. Per federal rules, Stonecrest officials could only spend these relief funds on necessary expenditures related to . MATTIE'S CALL: A 9-month-old baby girl was reported missing from the Ellenwood area with a man police say was diagnosed with a mental illness. Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. Andrea V. Watson. In one case, federal investigators alleged that Lary gave a church $150,000 under the condition that they would give a third of the money to a company called Real Estate Management Consultants LLC, which Lary controlled. and were incurred during the period that [began] on March 1, 2020, and [ended] on December 30, 2020. Examples of eligible expenditures were medical expenses, public health expenses, and grants to small businesses to reimburse the costs of business interruption caused by required closures. Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges, Former mayor of Stonecrest, bookkeeper plead guilty to theft of COVID-19 relief funds, LIST: Schools across Georgia closing early ahead of possible severe weather, Gallery of storm damage across GA: Send us your photos, videos, Firefighters rescue Cherokee County man buried up to his neck in trench, Excel Church gives despite recovery from fire, Father and 9-month-old daughter reported missing in Clayton County, 26-year-old woman shot while driving in Decatur, Sign up for Atlanta News First Newsletters. A former suburban Atlanta mayor was sentenced to nearly five years in prison on Wednesday for masterminding a scheme to steal nearly $925,000 of the $6.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds that. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call . The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. Lary, who faces up to 35 years in prison, will be sentenced on May 2. Former Stonecrest mayor, bookkeeper plead guilty to theft of COVID relief funds 585 views Feb 11, 2022 5 Dislike Share 11Alive 856K subscribers Jason Lary, the former mayor of. February 21, 2022 Chris Butler. A Georgia Senator said he was unsurprised to hear about the indictment. STONECREST MAYOR RESPONDS TO ACCUSATIONS OF CARES ACT FUNDS MISUSE. Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. A locked padlock She also agreed to pay restitution. Father defends terrified family with machete after home intruder breaks through window in middle of night, Paolo Banchero scores 31 points, Magic beat Hornets 117-106. The image comes from the ancient quarries where highly-trained stonemasons carefully chose the stones used in construction. According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: In March 2020, the President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act into law in response to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ignoring input from the official selection committee, from about November 2020, until about February 2021, Boone signed dozens of checks on behalf of MRPC, directing relief funds to individuals, businesses, churches, and non-profit organizations of Larys own choosing. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. MATTIE'S CALL: A 9-month-old baby girl was reported missing from the Ellenwood area with a man police say was diagnosed with a mental illness. Boone agreed to cooperate with government agents, provide records and testify at future trials. Shes the wife of Clarence Boone, the citys former economic development director who was fired as a result of investigations in the citys relief program. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary is asking for a lighter sentence than he faces after pleading guilty to allegedly stealing COVID relief funds awarded to the city during the pandemic. FORMER MAYOR ADMITS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. First, Lary conspired with Boone to steal relief funds before they were disbursed by MRPC. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. In September 2020, Jason Lary, the former Mayor of Stonecrest, allocated $5 million of the relief funds to a Small Business Program which would disburse relief funds based on applications submitted by local businesses. Lary is due in court to answer for fraud allegations. Lary betrayed the trust placed in him by the citizens of Stonecrest by stealing the very funds meant to help his constituents weather the COVID-19 pandemic, said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS In January, Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. Lary faces up to 35 years in prison on all three counts. The qualification period will take place roughly a month before the election date, and it must end 25 days before the election takes place. STONECREST CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO CENSURE MAYOR AFTER IMMATURE PUBLIC REMARKS, "Lary allegedly abused the power and trust conferred on him as Mayor of Stonecrest to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars intended for COVID-19 relief," said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. An official website of the United States government. Lary and Boone knew the purpose of the transfer was to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront home owned by Lary. If the special election for the mayors seat requires a runoff election, it will take place June 21. ATLANTA (AP) A former Georgia mayor will serve nearly five years in federal prison after stealing nearly $925,000 in COVID-19 relief funds that his city handed out. For example, Lary presented a check for $150,000 in relief funds to Church 1, on the condition that $50,000 be given to a company called Real Estate Management Consultants, LLC (REMC). Lania Boone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal program theft on February 11, 2022. The about-face came in. Lary allegedly had the city improperly enter into a contract with a recently founded nonprofit, Municipal Resource Partners Corporation, to distribute the citys funds as a way to siphon money toward himself and cohorts. The people of Stonecrest deserved better, and corrupt officials can expect severe consequences for using their offices to commit crimes., It is extremely disheartening when an elected official, someone sworn to protect the community they serve, violates that oath by stealing relief funds intended to aid their community, said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. The federal government permitted DeKalb County to further disburse these relief funds to its municipalities. He's accused of federal fraud related to COVID-19 relief funds. Instead of being a trustworthy steward of CARES Act funding, Clarence Boone and his co-conspirators schemed to misappropriate those funds to enrich themselves at the expense of those less fortunate. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. An official website of the United States government. (FOX 5). Secure .gov websites use HTTPS "The question of compassion to this Honorable Court is what is the appropriate sentenced for the conduct of this Defendant who, when confronted 'fessed up' and avoided costly indictment and made good faith efforts to cooperate with the Government," court documents read. According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: In March 2020, the President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act into law in response to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. ATLANTA - Jason Lary, the former mayor of Stonecrest, and Lania Boone, a bookkeeper for the entity that administered COVID-19 relief funds awarded to Stonecrest, have pleaded guilty to. Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. They are purposely seeking to tear down everything I have worked to build in Stonecrest. The people of Stonecrest deserved better, and corrupt officials can expect severe consequences for using their offices to commit crimes.. Main Office: Second, Lary told churches that received relief funds from the Stonecrest Cares Program that they were required to contribute a portion of those funds for purposes identified by Lary. It is extremely disheartening when an elected official, someone sworn to protect the community they serve, violates that oath by stealing relief funds intended to aid their community, said Keri Farley, special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta. For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. The three conspired to steal and misappropriate relief funds intended for struggling businesses in Stonecrest. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Residents will soon get a chance to elect a new mayor in Stonecrest. Lary resigned from his post as a mayor right before filing a guilty plea to the charges, citing health reasons and three battles with cancer. Jones tried to get a comment from Larys attorney after court, but he refused to make a statement. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. "Instead of providing aid to Stonecrests deserving citizens, Lary allegedly diverted funds for his own use, including to pay off his taxes and the mortgage on his lakefront home.". Credit: Photo courtesy of Boston College Athletics, Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges, Stonecrest passes on March election date to replace mayor after guilty fraud plea, Jahmyr Gibbs: Georgia Tech helped make me who I am today, Georgia Tech closes regular season with win over Boston College. On Wednesday, Channel 2s Tom Jones was in the courtroom as Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. He does not have to report to prison until Dec. 15, so he can continue treatment for prostate cancer. A former health care executive, Lary was instrumental in convincing the General Assembly to create the city of Stonecrest along I-20 in south DeKalb County. Lary was supposed to be in office until the end of 2023. 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[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]. Former Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary and his former bookkeeper have pleaded guilty to charges related to allegedly stealing COVID relief funds awarded to Stonecrest during the pandemic, officials said. The city will hold a special election on May 24 to fill the rest of the mayor's term after the office was vacated by Jason Lary in January. Lary previously denied the accusations of fraud. Small businesses that applied for financial relief were asked on an application form if theyd be willing to give 25% of the grant to one of three companies to market their business. Charles Johnson, Sr., has pleaded guilty for not paying $1.4 million in payroll taxes and for failure to pay employment taxes. Larys last public address to his constituents delivered one last bombshell moment to his tenure. Lary is free on bond. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. Stonecrest mayor appeared in federal court about misusing CARES fund Mayor Jason Lary and others in the city of Stonecrest is charged with mishandling 650,000 of CARES money meant for the citizens of Stonecrest. Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. STONECREST, Ga. - A bookkeeper hired by former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to conspiracy for her part in a scheme to steal COVID relief funds. Earlier this year, Lary pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud, conspiracy and federal program theft for his role in stealing more than $650,000. Former advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, Roger Stone, leaves the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse after being found guilty of obstructing a congressional investigation into . In Larys guilty plea, he admitted to making sure that Boone was hired as Municipal Resource Partners bookkeeper. Since Larys term was set to expire at the end of 2023, the city charter requires a special election to fill his post. ", Former Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary is met by FOX 5 I-Team Reporter Randy Travis as he walks into the federal courthouse in Atlanta to enter a guilty plea to stealing CARES Act money on Jan. 5, 2022. Ronald Bell, who conspired to extort money from Georgia Institute of Technology, has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit extortion. . 2: Person of Interest. Former Stonecrest mayor sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for stealing COVID-19 relief funds In January, Jason Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. The indictment alleges that Smith stole more than $450,000 in Social Security Administration Northern District of Georgia As mayor, he took control of who received $6.2 million in CARES Act money. A lock ( "CARES Act funds were intended to help people and businesses harmed by the pandemic, not to line the pockets of public officials entrusted to lead a community", said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. The city will hold a special election to select a new mayor. Yet Lary and others asked that these contributions be given not to Stonecrest, but to entities called Visit Us, Inc. and Battleground Media, LLC. Federal authorities brought the mayor of Stonecrest to court alleging he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief granted to the city. That money was supposed to go to people like us. Main Office: For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Lania Boone, a bookkeeper Lary hired for one of companies, admitted to helping the former mayor siphon CARES act money for personal use. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. Cobbles term is set to expire in 2026, so another special election will be necessary. . Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges, Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges, Stonecrest mayor appeared in federal court about misusing CARES fund. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary is asking for a lighter sentence than he faces after pleading guilty to allegedly stealing COVID relief funds awarded to the city during the pandemic. Lary is expected to be sentenced on July 13 at 10 a.m. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. STONECREST, Ga. Editor's note: The video above is from a previous story. Lary agreed that he diverted at least $650,000 in relief money by requiring Stonecrest churches and businesses to kick back a portion of their grant money to companies he controlled. Up to $10,000 reward now being offered in finding missing Georgia family man in Baton Rouge, Woman shot near DeKalb gas station; police say person cut her off, pulled out handgun, Forecast | Bright sunshine returns for the weekend, Metro Atlanta, north Georgia hit with widespread damage after storms produce powerful winds, Former Stonecrest mayor, bookkeeper plead guilty to theft of COVID relief funds, Ex-Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges, Stonecrest mayor, who is facing federal charges, says he will resign. Stonecrest did not disburse the $6 million allocated to the Stonecrest Cares Program and Small Business Program. The mayor only votes in the event of a tie a rarity for a five-member City Council. This article originally appeared on the Decatur-Avondale Estates Patch, Reports: 3 children dead, 2 wounded in attack at Texas home, Kellyanne Conway, George Conway To Divorce After Decadeslong Marriage: Report, School punished teen girl for working out in sports bra in 100-degree Texas heat, ACLU says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, 'Extremely dangerous': Spike in illegal crossings at Canada-Vermont border has feds sounding alarm, SoCal in for cool start to weekend, butlight showers make brief return. Credit: Photo courtesy of Boston College Athletics, Former Stonecrest mayors accomplice pleads guilty to felony, Stonecrest councilwoman among candidates running to replace disgraced mayor, Jahmyr Gibbs: Georgia Tech helped make me who I am today, Georgia Tech closes regular season with win over Boston College. Lary placed the defendant, Clarence Boone, who was then Senior Economic Development Manager for Stonecrest, in charge of overseeing the Small Business Program. The Justice Department on Monday released President Trump's clemency order for longtime GOP operative Roger Stone showing the president not only wiped away Stone's prison sentence but also a .

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