Former Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty To Federal Fraud Charges Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. 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. Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to concocting a fraud scheme to steal more than $650,000 in federal pandemic relief funds. Lary placed the defendant, Clarence Boone, who was then Senior Economic Development Manager for Stonecrest, in charge of overseeing the Small Business Program. A bookkeeper and spouse of a - DeKalb County News Now | Facebook Lary faces up to 35 years in prison on all three counts. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW 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. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. The Stone that the Builders Rejected Became the Cornerstone? 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 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. 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. February 21, 2022 Chris Butler. Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. Like the rest of the country, the residents and businesses of Stonecrest community looked to its government for vital assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lock 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,. Lock 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. 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. The application included the question, are you willing to allocate 25% of your grant to marketing your business? Hundreds of businesses applied for relief funds, but most of the applicants were rejected. 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. I should've stayed out for several months, but circumstances prevailed where I needed to come back earlier," Lary said. The relief funds deposited into the Visit Us and Battleground Media accounts were used by Lary to benefit himself and his associates. The. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. "I ask that you measure me by the whole story," Lary said. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal . 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 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 . 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. 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 . Stonecrest's Jason Lary COVID funds fraud case - 11Alive.com Lary, 60, pleaded. Instead Lary worked behind the scenes to form a private company, Municipal Resource Partners Corporation, Inc. (MRPC), recruit its CEO, open its bank accounts, and ensure that Lania Boone, his convicted co-conspirator, would be hired as MRPCs bookkeeper. Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. Former L.A. Councilmember Jose Huizar pleads guilty in corruption case Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. Those companies were all connected to Lary. He has not been charged with a crime. his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. Charles Johnson, Sr., has pleaded guilty for not paying $1.4 million in payroll taxes and for failure to pay employment taxes. For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. 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. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. 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. 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. Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. Jason Lary, the former mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty, according to a news release. The details of Boones plea deal are similar to the one Lary accepted. He faces a max sentence of 35 years in prison. He resigned his post on Jan. 4 and accepted a plea deal the next day for concocting the scheme. The city of Stonecrest could hold a special election as early as March to decide Larys replacement. 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. 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. Instead, $108,000 dollars were transferred to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront propertyowned by the former mayor. 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. 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. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 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. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. Hopefully, he gets all of that, Morrell said. . Prosecutors said the 59-year-old former mayor concocted a scheme to divert funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The former mayor of Stonecrest who pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges is making a punishment request. He declined to say what type of cancer he is battling but said it seems to be resurfacing for the third time. He explained he needs to take some time to work with doctors and care for himself. First, Lary conspired with Boone to steal relief funds before they were disbursed by MRPC. Stonecrest's former Senior Economic Development Manager pleads guilty We have no response about the Mayors resignation, city officials said. Briefs: 11Alives news director goes to Gray; Honey Boo Boos boyfriend arrested; Marlon Woman accused of killing ill husband released from jail, Class 7A: Semifinal coverage from Georgia State, DeKalb volunteers to plant 150 trees during March, Decatur hosts second community meeting on March 2, Atlantas Carter Center preps for future without founder, Photography club captures hope during pandemic, March food and drink events to check out in metro Atlanta. Boone agreed to cooperate with government agents, provide records and testify at future trials. Jason Lary stole more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds meant to help the. He's accused of federal fraud related to COVID-19 relief funds. Puede participar en nuestro ensayo sobre EPOC? The censure stemmed from remarks Mayor Lary made at the end of a council meeting on Sept. 27. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. Yet Lary and others asked that these contributions be given not to Stonecrest, but to entities called Visit Us, Inc. and Battleground Media, LLC. Jason Lary, whose resignation. 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. Lary and others falsely claimed that the money would be each businesss contribution to Stonecrest-related marketing and advertising. Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. For example, Lary used relief funds held by Visit Us to pay for an associates political advertising. Jason Lary, whose resignation went into effect at 10 a.m. Wednesday, pleaded guilty to three counts involving wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call Tuesday. A bookkeeper and spouse - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Facebook Lary used three different methods to steal the funds Stonecrest disbursed to MRPC. Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]. Around October 2021, the United States seized approximately $480,000 of fraud proceeds held in the bank accounts of Visit Us and Battleground Media. Official websites use .gov 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. 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. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. "You don't recognize Mayor Pro Tem and council and just leave me standing there like I'm not in the meeting. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges | AP News 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. Stonecrest did not disburse the $6 million allocated to the Stonecrest Cares Program and Small Business Program. 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. All rights reserved. Lary continued with the meeting after an IT tech fixed the problem. 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. Official websites use .gov Boone is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12. 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. While I was out on cancer leave, they removed me from every committee I created, refused to pay my car allowance, while paying six figures to the finance director and $209,000 annually to the acting city manager (including a car allowance). The church was then told to contribute $4,500 to REMC, which officials say the mayor used to pay his own property expenses and dues. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]. Boones case matches the legal process used by Jason Lary, the founding mayor of Stonecrest. A locked padlock The indictment alleges that Smith stole more than $450,000 in Social Security Administration Northern District of Georgia This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. Former mayor of Stonecrest pleads guilty to federal charges 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 . 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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.. Under the CARES Act, the federal government distributed COVID-19 relief funds to individual Americans, federal agencies, and state and local governments, including $125 million to DeKalb County. His sentencing hearing has been set for May 2. "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. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. Lary, who faces up to 35 years in prison, will be sentenced on May 2. Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. Former Stonecrest mayor, bookkeeper plead guilty to theft of COVID The population is now 60,000 with a budget of more than $13 million. In another case, Lary allegedly gave a church $50,000. Stonecrest sets May election date to replace mayor after guilty - ajc Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Ronald Bell, who conspired to extort money from Georgia Institute of Technology, has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit extortion. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Instead, Lary spent the money to pay his own property expenses and his dues to the Georgia Campaign Finance Committee. Example video title will go here for this video, Should Be Alive Ep. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. A judge will have the final say on her sentencing; her conspiracy charge carries a maximum of five years behind bars. "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. Lary issued a statement to FOX 5 about the censure: "My frustrations have boiled over with this council. 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. Former Stonecrest mayor sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for stealing COVID-19 relief funds. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. BREAKING: A bookkeeper - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Facebook City leaders have not chosen a specific location for the special election to be held. Former Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty To Federal Fraud Charges 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. Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. Author: 11alive.com Published: 6:24 PM EST February 11, 2022 Cobbles term is set to expire in 2026, so another special election will be necessary. The plan provided $1 million to the Stonecrest Cares Program for mask distribution, COVID-19 education and testing, and other purposes. The relief funds were designed to cover costs during the public health emergency. Residents will soon get a chance to elect a new mayor in Stonecrest. Wilmot said Lary used some of that stolen money to pay off the $108,147 mortgage on his lakefront home in Macon. They are purposely seeking to tear down everything I have worked to build in Stonecrest. His sentencing is set for May 2. Former Stonecrest mayor sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for Around the same time, Lary directed approximately $7,600 in stolen relief funds to be used for Boones sons college tuition and rent. 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. "I came back too early from my second round with 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. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges On October 28, 2020, for example, Clarence Boone and Lary circumvented the application process and directed more than $50,000 to a business that they knew was not conducting any legitimate operations, and Lania Boone ultimately wrote the check to disburse the funds. Stonecrest ex-mayor's cohort pleads guilty in fraud scheme This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. A bookkeeper was also involved in the scheme and arraigned, records show. I will show you my hairy behind next time it happens and that's the only warning I'm going to give with this.". By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 2021 5 Feb. "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone" ( Psalm 118:22 ). This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $119,607.69. 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. 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. The judge says Larys actions were deplorable and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. 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. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 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. ATLANTA - Clarence Boone, the former Senior Economic Development Manager of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty to conspiring with his wife, Lania Boone, and the former Mayor of Stonecrest, Jason Lary, to steal pandemic relief funds intended to support small businesses in Stonecrest. The government said no marketing was ever done. 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. 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. FORMER MAYOR ADMITS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. He said he had surgery in late December 2020. 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 resolution also adopted a funding plan for most of Stonecrests relief funds. Channel 2s Audrey Washington called and emailed Stonecrest officials about the announcement and the hack. 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.