former stonecrest mayor's accomplice pleads guilty to felony

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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. 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. In return, prosecutors recommended a lighter sentence of 366 days in confinement half in prison and half as home arrest. 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,. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Lock Author: 11alive.com Published: 6:24 PM EST February 11, 2022 Jason Lary, the former mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty, according to a news release. 2023 Cox Media Group. 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. Official websites use .gov 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. Main Office: Lary faces up to 35 years in prison on all three counts. his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. A lock ( Attorneys for the Northern District of Georgia, Former Mayor of Stonecrest sentenced to prison for stealing 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, Former Mayor of Stonecrest Sentenced To Prison For Stealing COVID 19 Relief Funds. They are purposely seeking to tear down everything I have worked to build in Stonecrest. 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. Residents will soon get a chance to elect a new mayor in Stonecrest. Charles Johnson, Sr., has pleaded guilty for not paying $1.4 million in payroll taxes and for failure to pay employment taxes. He has not been charged with a crime. Lary continued with the meeting after an IT tech fixed the problem. He said he had surgery in late December 2020. Andrea V. Watson. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 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. The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. ATLANTA - The former Mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing COVID-19 relief funds that were supposed to go to struggling businesses. In another case, Lary allegedly gave a church $50,000. Richard B. Russell Federal Building Third, Lary and others acting on his behalf solicited relief funds from businesses that received grants under the Small Business Program. A lock ( None the less, I will continue to serve the people of the great city of Stonecrest.". 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. "If you don't know protocol, you better learn it with me," said Lary. STONECREST, Ga. Editor's note: The video above is from a previous story. STONECREST MAYOR JASON LARY RESIGNS DAY BEFORE FEDERAL COURT DATE, FORMER STONECREST MAYOR ADMINS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. In January, Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. Former Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar pleaded guilty Friday to charges of racketeering and tax evasion, admitting that he extorted at least $1.5 million in bribes from real estate . Prosecutors said the 59-year-old former mayor concocted a scheme to divert funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Lary was arraigned in November 2021, accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga. In Larys guilty plea, he admitted to making sure that Boone was hired as Municipal Resource Partners bookkeeper. 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. Sentencing is scheduled for May 12. A judge will have the final say on her sentencing; her conspiracy charge carries a maximum of five years behind bars. Jason Lary received a sentence of four years and nine months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $119,607.69. 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. Lania Boone, a bookkeeper Lary hired for one of companies, admitted to helping the former mayor siphon CARES act money for personal use. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. Jason Lary stole more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds meant to help the. 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. 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 citys founding mayor. February 21, 2022 Chris Butler. 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 MAYOR ADMITS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. The mayor only votes in the event of a tie a rarity for a five-member City Council. A bookkeeper was also involved in the scheme and arraigned, records show. 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. 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. 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. Boones case matches the legal process used by Jason Lary, the founding mayor of Stonecrest. 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. Lary did not tell Church 1 at this time that he actually controlled REMC. Stonecrest was required to spend the relief funds in accordance with the CARES Act. 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. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]. Lary is expected to be sentenced on July 13 at 10 a.m. Lary won the mayors race twice, the citys only mayor in its brief history. Inpractice, the Stonecrest Cares Program directed relief funds to churches and non-profit organizations in and around Stonecrest. The judge says Larys actions were deplorable and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. Lary, 60, pleaded guilty in January to wire fraud, federal program theft and conspiracy to commit federal program theft. 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. The plan provided $1 million to the Stonecrest Cares Program for mask distribution, COVID-19 education and testing, and other purposes. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. 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. 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. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. His plea came the same morning his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. The government said no marketing was ever done. 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. City leaders have not chosen a specific location for the special election to be held. Lary directed $7,600 of the federal relief dollars to pay Boones sons college tuition and rent. The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. 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. Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. 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 asked potential recipients to kickback 25% of their grant to other companies for "marketing" purposes. The about-face came in. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. I let us down, he told the court, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Have a question about Government Services? All rights reserved. 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. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Lary was supposed to be in office until the end of 2023. 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. Since Larys term was set to expire at the end of 2023, the city charter requires a special election to fill his post. "Quite frankly folks, now its turned ugly," he said during a news conference in April 2021. Stonecrest residents that Jones talked to were outraged. 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. 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 and Boone knew the purpose of the transfer was to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront home owned by Lary. Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to concocting a fraud scheme to steal more than $650,000 in federal pandemic relief funds. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 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. "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.". "What the mayor said was unacceptable and does not represent city council," said Mayor Pro Tem George Turner. 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. Candidates must pay a $600 qualifying fee. Instead, prosecutors said Lary used the money to cover his own tax liabilities and pay off the mortgage on his lake house. 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. 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 resolution also adopted a funding plan for most of Stonecrests relief funds. 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. Those duties include acting as the figurehead of the city and appointing members to boards and committees. 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. Lary did not disclose he controlled these companies. 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. 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. 2023 FOX Television Stations, resignation went into effect at 10 a.m. Wednesday, he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief. Jason Lary, whose resignation. "There was never an interest on anybodys part to kick back or filter money back or any of that nonsense.". Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 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. Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal . 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW 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. This story is breaking. Lary, 60, pleaded. Lary, 59, was the first mayor of Stonecrest, a DeKalb County city of about . Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. The phrase is quoted by Jesus, who applies it to his mission of death and glory, after having told the . "Boones guilty plea further demonstrates our commitment to prosecuting those who seek to exploit COVID relief programs for their own gain. Until a new mayor is elected, the mayors responsibilities will be handled by the mayor pro tem. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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.. At least two candidates have publicly said theyll run to be the citys next mayor. He explained he needs to take some time to work with doctors and care for himself. 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. Lary also made the defendants wife, Lania Boone, the bookkeeper charged with distributing relief funds. In court on Wednesday, Lary apologized to his family, friends and Stonecrest residents. 2021 5 Feb. "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone" ( Psalm 118:22 ). "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. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Wilmot said Lary used some of that stolen money to pay off the $108,147 mortgage on his lakefront home in Macon. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. 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. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal federal pandemic relief funds. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor C. Wilmot prosecuted the case. 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. 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. In total, businesses were defrauded out of hundreds of thousands of dollars of relief funds. He was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $119,607.69. "I ask that you measure me by the whole story," Lary said. Lock 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. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW Boone is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12. 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. 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 . STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. 2022-02-12 - By Zachary Hansen zachary.hansen@ajc.com. Charles Johnson, Sr., has pleaded guilty for not paying $1.4 million in payroll taxes and for failure to pay employment taxes. Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call Tuesday. The city will hold a special election to select a new mayor. As mayor, he took control of who received $6.2 million in CARES Act money. He also resigned as the citys mayor. Main Office: Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. Instead, $108,000 dollars were transferred to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront propertyowned by the former mayor.

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