Candidates must pay a $600 qualifying fee. 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. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. 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.. ", 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. District 3 Councilwoman Jazzmin Cobble announced last week she will resign her post once she qualifies to run for mayor, and former District 5 councilwoman Diane Adoma told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution she will run as well. A bookkeeper and spouse - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Facebook Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. His coconspirators previously pleaded guilty and received the following sentences: This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the DeKalb County District Attorneys Office. 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. The first is verse 22, "The stone rejected by the builders has become the corner-stone". "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. 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. Lary previously denied the accusations of fraud. The mayor only votes in the event of a tie a rarity for a five-member City Council. . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Main Office: But he was using it for his own personal needs.. 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. Those companies were all connected to Lary. Library : Stone Rejected Has Become Cornerstone, The He has not been charged with a crime. 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. 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. A lock ( During a struggle to implement new city manager, Lary said he was facing what could be his third battle with cancer. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Lary asked potential recipients to kickback 25% of their grant to other companies for "marketing" purposes. 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. 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. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. 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. Jones tried to get a comment from Larys attorney after court, but he refused to make a statement. Lary, who faces up to 35 years in prison, will be sentenced on May 2. And while Lary falsely stated that the $50,000 would be used to assist with home repairs for people who could not afford them due to COVID-19, in reality he used the money for his own purposes, including to pay off his outstanding federal, state, and local tax liabilities. STONECREST MAYOR RESPONDS TO ACCUSATIONS OF CARES ACT FUNDS MISUSE. The city's first mayor did not mention his legal troubles in a resignation speech. ATLANTA Former Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary was sentenced to 57 months in prison Wednesday after he stole more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds meant for the recovery of businesses,. Stonecrest's former Senior Economic Development Manager pleads guilty In return, prosecutors recommended a lighter sentence of 366 days in confinement half in prison and half as home arrest. None the less, I will continue to serve the people of the great city of Stonecrest.". Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Author: 11alive.com Published: 6:24 PM EST February 11, 2022 Lary, 60, pleaded. Channel 2s Audrey Washington called and emailed Stonecrest officials about the announcement and the hack. Hardworking people like us, Will Morrell said. Lary placed the defendant, Clarence Boone, who was then Senior Economic Development Manager for Stonecrest, in charge of overseeing the Small Business Program. Charles Johnson, Sr., has pleaded guilty for not paying $1.4 million in payroll taxes and for failure to pay employment taxes. The about-face came in. The former mayor of Stonecrest and a bookkeeper who administered COVID-19 relief funds to the town pleaded guilty in federal court this month to charges related to the theft of pandemic relief funds. In Larys guilty plea, he admitted to making sure that Boone was hired as Municipal Resource Partners bookkeeper. Lania Boone received a sentence of six months and one day in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,657.47. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justices National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. An official website of the United States government. Lary was arraigned in November 2021, accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. Lary used three different methods to steal the funds Stonecrest disbursed to MRPC. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal federal pandemic relief funds. Lock The discussion comes after the censure of Stonecrest's mayor for comments he made during a meeting. WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta facebook feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta twitter feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta instagram feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta youtube feed(Opens a new window), Reality star Honey Boo Boo was inside speeding Dodge Charger involved in chase with Ga. deputies, 49-year-old man shot multiple times during drug deal in northeast Atlanta, police say, A 17-year-old Gwinnett County girl thought she was taking Percocet; now shes dead, Man rescued after being accidentally buried alive in Cherokee County, Our capital city will die: Georgia senators reject proposal to separate Buckhead from Atlanta. Lary issued a statement to FOX 5 about the censure: "My frustrations have boiled over with this council. Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges - CBS 46 The plan provided $1 million to the Stonecrest Cares Program for mask distribution, COVID-19 education and testing, and other purposes. "It's time for me to retire from politics and focus on my health," Lary said. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges The plan also provided $5 million to the COVID-19 CARES Act Small Business Program (Small Business Program). For example, Lary used relief funds held by Visit Us to pay for an associates political advertising. I will show you my hairy behind next time it happens and that's the only warning I'm going to give with this.". 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. All rights reserved. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. A locked padlock 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. The judge says Lary's actions were "deplorable" and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. Boone and the former Mayor conspired to fraudulently line each others pockets with relief funds that were desperately needed by struggling businesses in Stonecrest, said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. That money was supposed to go to people like us. Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. Boones case matches the legal process used by Jason Lary, the founding mayor of Stonecrest. . Bookkeeper admits to role helping former Stonecrest mayor steal COVID Former mayor admits role in COVID relief fraud scheme Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor C. Wilmot prosecuted the case. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 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. 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. . Former Stonecrest mayor's accomplice pleads guilty to felony - ajc Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. (FOX 5). Former Stonecrest mayor sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for 2023 FOX Television Stations, resignation went into effect at 10 a.m. Wednesday, he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief. "I ask that you measure me by the whole story," Lary said. The details of Boones plea deal are similar to the one Lary accepted. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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 . However, federal authorities said Lary worked behind the scenes with an organization known as Municipal Resource Partners Corporation, Inc. ("MRPC") to disburse the relief funds. 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. Puede participar en nuestro ensayo sobre EPOC? Third, Lary and others acting on his behalf solicited relief funds from businesses that received grants under the Small Business Program. 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. Suite 600 Stonecrest mayor charged in alleged misuse of CARES Act federal funds Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The population is now 60,000 with a budget of more than $13 million. ATLANTA (AP) A suburban Atlanta mayor pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges a day after announcing his resignation from office. The indictment alleges that Smith stole more than $450,000 in Social Security Administration Northern District of Georgia SB 300, also called the Sentencing Reform Act, would rewrite part of Proposition 115, a 1990 ballot initiative that expanded the definition of first-degree murder to include murder committed . The U.S. Attorney's Office alleges Mayor Jason Lary misused $6.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds. His sentencing hearing has been set for May 2. Lary and Boone knew the purpose of the transfer was to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront home owned by Lary. February 21, 2022 Chris Butler. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges, Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges, WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta facebook feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta twitter feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta instagram feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta youtube feed(Opens a new window), more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, Reality star Honey Boo Boo was inside speeding Dodge Charger involved in chase with Ga. deputies, 49-year-old man shot multiple times during drug deal in northeast Atlanta, police say, A 17-year-old Gwinnett County girl thought she was taking Percocet; now shes dead, Man rescued after being accidentally buried alive in Cherokee County, Our capital city will die: Georgia senators reject proposal to separate Buckhead from Atlanta. Boone is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12. "I did the best I could do with what we had in place.". Check back for details. 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. If the special election for the mayors seat requires a runoff election, it will take place June 21. Have a question about Government Services? 2023 FOX Television Stations. A Georgia Senator said he was unsurprised to hear about the indictment. 2023 Cox Media Group. 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. Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to concocting a fraud scheme to steal more than $650,000 in federal pandemic relief funds. Federal prosecutors said that in addition to paying off personal debt, Lary conducted a scheme where he asked small businesses and churches to whom he allocated grants to give 25% of the money to companies connected to himself and co-conspirators. 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. Lary, 59, was the first mayor of Stonecrest, a DeKalb County city of about . Lary is due in court to answer for fraud allegations. "Quite frankly folks, now its turned ugly," he said during a news conference in April 2021. First, Lary conspired with Boone to steal relief funds before they were disbursed by MRPC. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. Lock Former Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty To Federal Fraud Charges 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. Wilmot said Lary used some of that stolen money to pay off the $108,147 mortgage on his lakefront home in Macon. Those duties include acting as the figurehead of the city and appointing members to boards and committees. This man's imprisonment shows why California's 'special circumstances 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. 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. 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. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. Lary, 60, pleaded guilty in January to wire fraud, federal program theft and conspiracy to commit federal program theft. At least two candidates have publicly said theyll run to be the citys next mayor. His sentencing is set for May 2. The last day Stonecrest residents can register to vote in time for the special election is April 25. Until a new mayor is elected, the mayors responsibilities will be handled by the mayor pro tem. The three conspired to steal and misappropriate relief funds intended for struggling businesses in Stonecrest. 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. Suite 600 The people of Stonecrest deserved better, and corrupt officials can expect severe consequences for using their offices to commit crimes.. Hopefully, he gets all of that, Morrell said. No stone was more important than the cornerstone because the integrity of the whole structure depended on the cornerstone containing . 2: Person of Interest. Roger Stone prosecutors quit after furor over Trump ally's sentence - CNBC 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. City leaders have not chosen a specific location for the special election to be held. Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. 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. Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges | AP News "If you don't know protocol, you better learn it with me," said Lary. 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. 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. "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.". 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. 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. Prosecutors said the 59-year-old former mayor concocted a scheme to divert funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In or about November 2020, Stonecrest published an application on its website for businesses to apply for relief funds under the Small Business Program. "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. 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. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]. The. Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. 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. The relief funds deposited into the Visit Us and Battleground Media accounts were used by Lary to benefit himself and his associates. 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. As another example, Lary presented a check from MRPC for $50,000 to Church 2. Later, a person acting on Larys behalf told Church 2 to contribute $4,500 of the relief funds to REMC, purportedly for rent assistance. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS He declined to say what type of cancer he is battling but said it seems to be resurfacing for the third time. InJuly 2020, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners voted to disburse some of the relief funds to its municipalities, including a $6.2 million grant to Stonecrest. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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. In total, businesses were defrauded out of hundreds of thousands of dollars of relief funds. Boone, who wrote the bulk of the checks using the stolen funds, agreed with that Friday in court. The city will hold a special election on May 24 to fill the rest of the mayors term after the office was vacated by Jason Lary in January. 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. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. Main Office: The resolution also adopted a funding plan for most of Stonecrests relief funds. Jason Lary, who announced his resignation as the mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal. Stonecrest was required to spend the relief funds in accordance with the CARES Act. In September 2020, Jason Lary, then the Mayor of Stonecrest, signed a resolution acknowledging these CARES Act requirements. Former mayor asks judge if he can serve sentence from home after His plea came the same morning his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. 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 ex-mayor's cohort pleads guilty in fraud scheme The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the only news outlet at the hearing. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. "Larys guilty plea was the first in righting the wrongs committed against the people of Stonecrest, who were wrongfully deprived of hundreds of thousands of dollars intended to provide COVID-19 relief," said U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. He said he had surgery in late December 2020. In January, Jason Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. Last year the Northern District of Georgia US Attorney's office prosecuted at least 100 people involved in a total of $26 million in CARES Act fraud.
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