former stonecrest mayor's accomplice pleads guilty to felony

A judge will have the final say on her sentencing; her conspiracy charge carries a maximum of five years behind bars. In court on Wednesday, Lary apologized to his family, friends and Stonecrest residents. "I came back too early from my second round with cancer. Channel 2s Audrey Washington called and emailed Stonecrest officials about the announcement and the hack. Lary did not tell the businesses that he controlled these entities. Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. The indictment alleges that Smith stole more than $450,000 in Social Security Administration Northern District of Georgia Lary is free on bond. Around the same time, Lary directed approximately $7,600 in stolen relief funds to be used for Boones sons college tuition and rent. Boone agreed to cooperate with government agents, provide records and testify at future trials. 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. 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. February 21, 2022 Chris Butler. 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. 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 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. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal federal pandemic relief funds. He's accused of federal fraud related to COVID-19 relief funds. his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. 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. This story is breaking. 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. Richard B. Russell Federal Building Former Mayor of Stonecrest sentenced to prison for stealing COVID-19 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. His plea came the same morning his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. The first mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to the federal charges earlier this year. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. Official websites use .gov A former suburban Atlanta mayor was sentenced to nearly five years in prison on Wednesday for masterminding a scheme to steal nearly $925,000 of the $6.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds that. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. 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. Lary continued with the meeting after an IT tech fixed the problem. Lary and others falsely claimed that the money would be each businesss contribution to Stonecrest-related marketing and advertising. "What the mayor said was unacceptable and does not represent city council," said Mayor Pro Tem George Turner. "If you don't know protocol, you better learn it with me," said Lary. "I ask that you measure me by the whole story," Lary said. An official website of the United States government. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Erskine told the FOX 5 I-Team he is accused of pocketing more than $650,000. Former Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary pleads guilty to federal - WAGA [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]. "There was never an interest on anybodys part to kick back or filter money back or any of that nonsense.". By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. 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. 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. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. Stonecrest sets May election date to replace mayor after guilty - ajc 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. Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary on Wednesday pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft and conspiracy to commit federal program theft, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. 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U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. 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. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. Lock 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.. Check back for details. 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 . They are purposely seeking to tear down everything I have worked to build in Stonecrest. Former mayor asks judge if he can serve sentence from home after Lary also made the defendants wife, Lania Boone, the bookkeeper charged with distributing relief funds. We are putting measures into place to prevent what we experienced during the meeting.. 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 . This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Author: 11alive.com Published: 6:24 PM EST February 11, 2022 The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. Richard B. Russell Federal Building 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 . At least two candidates have publicly said theyll run to be the citys next mayor. 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. 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. 2022-02-12 - By Zachary Hansen zachary.hansen@ajc.com. Stone clemency order shows Trump wiped prison sentence, supervised A Georgia Senator said he was unsurprised to hear about the indictment. Lary placed the defendant, Clarence Boone, who was then Senior Economic Development Manager for Stonecrest, in charge of overseeing the Small Business Program. (FOX 5). Former mayor of metro Atlanta city pleads guilty to fraud 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. Jason Lary, the former mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty, according to a news release. She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2022. The details of Boones plea deal are similar to the one Lary accepted. The city's first mayor did not mention his legal troubles in a resignation speech. Lary faces up to 35 years in prison on all three counts. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Former Stonecrest mayor's accomplice pleads guilty to felony - ajc Lary and Boone knew the purpose of the transfer was to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront home owned by Lary. 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. Third, Lary and others acting on his behalf solicited relief funds from businesses that received grants under the Small Business Program. Former Stonecrest mayor sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for stealing COVID-19 relief funds. But he was using it for his own personal needs.. 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Around October 2021, the United States seized approximately $480,000 of fraud proceeds held in the bank accounts of Visit Us and Battleground Media. Cobbles term is set to expire in 2026, so another special election will be necessary. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. 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. 2021 5 Feb. "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone" ( Psalm 118:22 ). We have no response about the Mayors resignation, city officials said. 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 did not disburse the $6 million allocated to the Stonecrest Cares Program and Small Business Program. 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. The relief funds deposited into the Visit Us and Battleground Media accounts were used by Lary to benefit himself and his associates. 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. Lary previously denied the accusations of fraud. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. 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 mayor only votes in the event of a tie a rarity for a five-member City Council. In January, Jason Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. 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. Lary allegedly had the city improperly enter into a contract with a recently founded nonprofit, Municipal Resource Partners Corporation, to distribute the citys funds as a way to siphon money toward himself and cohorts. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga. On Wednesday, Channel 2s Tom Jones was in the courtroom as Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. 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. 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. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. 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. Stonecrest could hold a special election to fill the vacant mayor's seat as early as March. Since Larys term was set to expire at the end of 2023, the city charter requires a special election to fill his post. The U.S. Attorney's Office alleges Mayor Jason Lary misused $6.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds. Residents will soon get a chance to elect a new mayor in Stonecrest. 2023 FOX Television Stations. The plan provided $1 million to the Stonecrest Cares Program for mask distribution, COVID-19 education and testing, and other purposes. In total, businesses were defrauded out of hundreds of thousands of dollars of relief funds. Lania Boone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal program theft on February 11, 2022. 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,. "He certainly, as alleged by the Grand Jury, used his position as mayor of Stonecrest to divert those funds and used his influence and connections," Erskine said. 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. 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, churches and the people of the city. Hardworking people like us, Will Morrell said. Former mayor admits role in COVID relief fraud scheme Lary won the mayors race twice, the citys only mayor in its brief history. 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 population is now 60,000 with a budget of more than $13 million. 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. Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges 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. The censure stemmed from remarks Mayor Lary made at the end of a council meeting on Sept. 27. He resigned his post on Jan. 4 and accepted a plea deal the next day for concocting the scheme. 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. STONECREST MAYOR RESPONDS TO ACCUSATIONS OF CARES ACT FUNDS MISUSE. Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to. A lock ( Stonecrest ex-mayor's cohort pleads guilty in fraud scheme By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Lary directed $7,600 of the federal relief dollars to pay Boones sons college tuition and rent. In another case, Lary allegedly gave a church $50,000. Stonecrest residents that Jones talked to were outraged. 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. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Official websites use .gov 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. 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. A lock ( ATLANTA - After spending nearly a year proclaiming his innocence, former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary admitted masterminding a scheme to steal COVID relief funds. 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. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. 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.. 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. 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.

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