A locked padlock Third, Lary and others acting on his behalf solicited relief funds from businesses that received grants under the Small Business Program. 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. For example, Lary used relief funds held by Visit Us to pay for an associates political advertising. Then, Lary caused the city to enter a contract with MPRC to disburse the relief funds as directed by Stonecrest. "There was never an interest on anybodys part to kick back or filter money back or any of that nonsense.". He's accused of federal fraud related to COVID-19 relief funds. Stonecrest residents that Jones talked to were outraged. "The FBI will do everything in our power to make sure stolen funds are returned to the public, and individuals involved in this type of criminal behavior are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.". 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. In January, Jason Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. Lary did not disclose he controlled these companies. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. "Boones guilty plea further demonstrates our commitment to prosecuting those who seek to exploit COVID relief programs for their own gain. His plea came the same morning his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. Boone is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12. Wilmot said Lary used some of that stolen money to pay off the $108,147 mortgage on his lakefront home in Macon. 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. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. Lary is accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds meant to help the people of Stonecrest who he was supposed to serve. Lary did not tell the businesses that he controlled these entities. Lary, 59, was the first mayor of Stonecrest, a DeKalb County city of about . Boone agreed to cooperate with government agents, provide records and testify at future trials. A Georgia Senator said he was unsurprised to hear about the indictment. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. Boones case matches the legal process used by Jason Lary, the founding mayor of Stonecrest. Lary, 60, pleaded guilty in January to wire fraud, federal program theft and conspiracy to commit federal program theft. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. DeKalb County then disbursed $6.2 million of these relief funds to Stonecrest. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. 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. 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. 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 . 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. Author: 11alive.com Published: 6:24 PM EST February 11, 2022 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. Inpractice, the Stonecrest Cares Program directed relief funds to churches and non-profit organizations in and around Stonecrest. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. Lock Erskine told the FOX 5 I-Team he is accused of pocketing more than $650,000. 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. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. 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. His sentencing hearing has been set for May 2. 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. (FOX 5). The mayor only votes in the event of a tie a rarity for a five-member City Council. The federal government permitted DeKalb County to further disburse these relief funds to its municipalities. The. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than. Residents will soon get a chance to elect a new mayor in Stonecrest. Official websites use .gov FORMER MAYOR ADMITS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. In January, Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. 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 about-face came in. Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. Lania Boone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal program theft on February 11, 2022. He does not have to report to prison until Dec. 15, so he can continue treatment for prostate cancer. 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. 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. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. Have a question about Government Services? Prosecutors said the 59-year-old former mayor concocted a scheme to divert funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. 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. His legal team is citing his health and lack of criminal record should merit a lighter sentence. Until a new mayor is elected, the mayors responsibilities will be handled by the mayor pro tem. In court on Wednesday, Lary apologized to his family, friends and Stonecrest residents. 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. The last day Stonecrest residents can register to vote in time for the special election is April 25. An official website of the United States government. The population is now 60,000 with a budget of more than $13 million. 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. 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. In September 2020, Jason Lary, then the Mayor of Stonecrest, signed a resolution acknowledging these CARES Act requirements. The plan provided $1 million to the Stonecrest Cares Program for mask distribution, COVID-19 education and testing, and other purposes. 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. He resigned his post on Jan. 4 and accepted a plea deal the next day for concocting the scheme. 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). The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the only news outlet at the hearing. Boone, who wrote the bulk of the checks using the stolen funds, agreed with that Friday in court. His sentencing is set for May 2. Lock Sentencing is scheduled for May 12. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call . The first mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to the federal charges earlier this year. 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 image comes from the ancient quarries where highly-trained stonemasons carefully chose the stones used in construction. A judge will have the final say on her sentencing; her conspiracy charge carries a maximum of five years behind bars. "You don't recognize Mayor Pro Tem and council and just leave me standing there like I'm not in the meeting. In total, businesses were defrauded out of hundreds of thousands of dollars of relief funds. 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. 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. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga. 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. 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 is due in court to answer for fraud allegations. ATLANTA - After spending nearly a year proclaiming his innocence, former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary admitted masterminding a scheme to steal COVID relief funds. The phrase is quoted by Jesus, who applies it to his mission of death and glory, after having told the . (Art by Richard Miller). 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal federal pandemic relief funds. Ronald Bell, who conspired to extort money from Georgia Institute of Technology, has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit extortion. If the special election for the mayors seat requires a runoff election, it will take place June 21. First, Lary conspired with Boone to steal relief funds before they were disbursed by MRPC. 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. He said he had surgery in late December 2020. No stone was more important than the cornerstone because the integrity of the whole structure depended on the cornerstone containing . Lary, 60, pleaded. Instead, prosecutors said Lary used the money to cover his own tax liabilities and pay off the mortgage on his lake house. An official website of the United States government. Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to. 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. We have no response about the Mayors resignation, city officials said. "I ask that you measure me by the whole story," Lary said. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. 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. "I came back too early from my second round with cancer. The relief funds deposited into the Visit Us and Battleground Media accounts were used by Lary to benefit himself and his associates. He declined to say what type of cancer he is battling but said it seems to be resurfacing for the third time. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. The city's first mayor did not mention his legal troubles in a resignation speech. 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 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. 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. 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. Later, in March 2021, after learning of an investigation into the citys handling of relief funds and knowing that the business had never filed paperwork to support the grant, Clarence Boone attempted to conceal the scheme by directing the businesss owner to submit an application that contained false statements, even though the Small Business Program had already ceased operations. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call Tuesday.. STONECREST MAYOR RESPONDS TO ACCUSATIONS OF CARES ACT FUNDS MISUSE. The resolution also adopted a funding plan for most of Stonecrests relief funds. 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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. 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. February 21, 2022 Chris Butler. 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. Both Boone and Lary remain out of jail on bond until their sentencing hearings. 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. 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. ATLANTA (AP) A suburban Atlanta mayor pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges a day after announcing his resignation from office. Lary and others falsely claimed that the money would be each businesss contribution to Stonecrest-related marketing and advertising. The details of Boones plea deal are similar to the one Lary accepted. 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. 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 directed $7,600 of the federal relief dollars to pay Boones sons college tuition and rent. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. She also agreed to pay restitution. 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. 2023 Cox Media Group. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. Candidates must pay a $600 qualifying fee. 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 did the best I could do with what we had in place.". 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. The potential stakes are high for offenders who break new guidelines. 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 . He also settled income taxes he owed going back to 2015. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal . In a special-called meeting, members of the Stonecrest City Council voted 4-1 to censure Lary. That decision will be made at a later date. accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. 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. 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. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Lary is expected to be sentenced on July 13 at 10 a.m. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 2023 Cox Media Group. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. During a struggle to implement new city manager, Lary said he was facing what could be his third battle with cancer. We are putting measures into place to prevent what we experienced during the meeting.. STONECREST, Ga. Editor's note: The video above is from a previous story. Jason Lary, the former mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty, according to a news release. Example video title will go here for this video, Should Be Alive Ep. 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,. Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. 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. Suite 600 Richard B. Russell Federal Building DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. In general, according to the Department of the Treasury, relief funds could only be used to cover costs that [were] necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency. 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. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. 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. Lary placed the defendant, Clarence Boone, who was then Senior Economic Development Manager for Stonecrest, in charge of overseeing the Small Business Program. He was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $119,607.69. "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. 2: Person of Interest. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. The U.S. Attorney's Office alleges Mayor Jason Lary misused $6.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds. For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. City leaders have not chosen a specific location for the special election to be held.
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