Lary, 60, pleaded. 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. 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. Sentencing is scheduled for May 12. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. 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. Larys last public address to his constituents delivered one last bombshell moment to his tenure. Main Office: [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]. . The relief funds were designed to cover costs during the public health emergency. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW 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. City leaders have not chosen a specific location for the special election to be held. 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. Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. Wilmot said Lary used some of that stolen money to pay off the $108,147 mortgage on his lakefront home in Macon. 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. The potential stakes are high for offenders who break new guidelines. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The FBI will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure stolen relief funds are returned to the public, and individuals involved in this type of fraud are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.. Residents will soon get a chance to elect a new mayor in Stonecrest. He said he had surgery in late December 2020. Deana Timberlake-Wiley, Boones attorney, and federal prosecutors declined to comment. The former mayor of Stonecrest who pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges is making a punishment request. The mayor only votes in the event of a tie a rarity for a five-member City Council. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. 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. Richard B. Russell Federal Building FORMER MAYOR ADMITS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. 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. Main Office: 100 people involved in a total of $26 million in CARES Act fraud. This story is breaking. In January, Jason Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. Andrea V. Watson. Stonecrest could hold a special election to fill the vacant mayor's seat as early as March. 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. 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. 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. Lary directed $7,600 of the federal relief dollars to pay Boones sons college tuition and rent. 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. 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. 2022-02-12 - By Zachary Hansen zachary.hansen@ajc.com. The DeKalb County District Attorneys Office will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to bring these bad actors to justice, said DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston. Lary is due in court to answer for fraud allegations. Check back for details. Attorneys for the Northern District of Georgia, Stonecrests former Senior Economic Development Manager pleads guilty to theft of COVID-19 relief funds, https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form, CEO of Atlanta engineering firm pleads guilty to failing to pay payroll taxes, Arizona man pleads guilty to extorting Georgia Tech, Georgia woman charged with stealing over $450,000 in government and retirement benefits, Stonecrests Former Senior Economic Development Manager Pleads Guilty To Theft of COVID 19 Relief Funds. 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. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. 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 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. 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford, Chief of Public Integrity and Civil Rights, is prosecuting the case. Those companies were all connected to Lary. 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 . 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 city's first mayor did not mention his legal troubles in a resignation speech. A lock ( The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the only news outlet at the hearing. Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. 2023 FOX Television Stations, resignation went into effect at 10 a.m. Wednesday, he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief. "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. Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. Stonecrest was required to spend the relief funds in accordance with the CARES Act. As mayor, he took control of who received $6.2 million in CARES Act money. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. 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. For example, Lary used relief funds held by Visit Us to pay for an associates political advertising. The city will hold a special election to select a new mayor. 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. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. Candidates must pay a $600 qualifying fee. 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. Boone, who wrote the bulk of the checks using the stolen funds, agreed with that Friday in court. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. An official website of the United States government. 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. Lary and Boone knew the purpose of the transfer was to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront home owned by Lary. Ronald Bell, who conspired to extort money from Georgia Institute of Technology, has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit extortion. "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. The last day Stonecrest residents can register to vote in time for the special election is April 25. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 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. 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. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Instead, $108,000 dollars were transferred to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront propertyowned by the former mayor. But he was using it for his own personal needs.. Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to. "Quite frankly folks, now its turned ugly," he said during a news conference in April 2021. Suite 600 Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges Lary did not tell the businesses that he controlled these entities. Boone is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12. Stonecrest's Jason Lary COVID funds fraud case - 11Alive.com Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal . Stonecrest's former Senior Economic Development Manager pleads guilty The image comes from the ancient quarries where highly-trained stonemasons carefully chose the stones used in construction. 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 is free on bond. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. A judge will have the final say on her sentencing; her conspiracy charge carries a maximum of five years behind bars. 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. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. Stonecrest residents that Jones talked to were outraged. Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. The plan also provided $5 million to the COVID-19 CARES Act Small Business Program (Small Business Program). Former Stonecrest mayor sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for The. 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 . 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. The city of Stonecrest could hold a special election as early as March to decide Larys replacement. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. . In Larys guilty plea, he admitted to making sure that Boone was hired as Municipal Resource Partners bookkeeper. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call Tuesday. She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2022. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. ", 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. Former Stonecrest mayor, bookkeeper plead guilty to theft of COVID DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. Lary faces up to 35 years in prison on all three counts. The judge says Lary's actions were "deplorable" and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. Stonecrest did not disburse the $6 million allocated to the Stonecrest Cares Program and Small Business Program. 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. 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. The censure stemmed from remarks Mayor Lary made at the end of a council meeting on Sept. 27. Example video title will go here for this video, Should Be Alive Ep. Jason Lary stole more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds meant to help the. Lary continued with the meeting after an IT tech fixed the problem. Former Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary pleads guilty to federal - WAGA Hopefully, he gets all of that, Morrell said. Official websites use .gov This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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. The three conspired to steal and misappropriate relief funds intended for struggling businesses in Stonecrest. The population is now 60,000 with a budget of more than $13 million. A locked padlock Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. Stonecrest sets May election date to replace mayor after guilty - ajc his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. His legal team is citing his health and lack of criminal record should merit a lighter sentence. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds.
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