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. Jones tried to get a comment from Larys attorney after court, but he refused to make a statement. Former Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty To Federal Fraud Charges Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. "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.". 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. 100 people involved in a total of $26 million in CARES Act fraud. Boone agreed to cooperate with government agents, provide records and testify at future trials. The qualification period will take place roughly a month before the election date, and it must end 25 days before the election takes place. accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. 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 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. They are purposely seeking to tear down everything I have worked to build in Stonecrest. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Lary, 59, was the first mayor of Stonecrest, a DeKalb County city of about . 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. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. 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. 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. Per federal rules, Stonecrest officials could only spend these relief funds on necessary expenditures related to . Both Boone and Lary remain out of jail on bond until their sentencing hearings. Lary did not disclose he controlled these companies. 2022-02-12 - By Zachary Hansen [email protected]. Jason Lary, who announced his resignation as the mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. Lary did not tell Church 1 at this time that he actually controlled REMC. 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. She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2022. 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.. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. 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. 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. 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. Residents will soon get a chance to elect a new mayor in Stonecrest. Ronald Bell, who conspired to extort money from Georgia Institute of Technology, has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit extortion. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal . Lary is free on bond. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The image comes from the ancient quarries where highly-trained stonemasons carefully chose the stones used in construction. If the special election for the mayors seat requires a runoff election, it will take place June 21. Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges - CBS 46 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. As you can tell with technology, it can be immature and ridiculous, and thats fine, Lary said. 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. 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. Until a new mayor is elected, the mayors responsibilities will be handled by the mayor pro tem. Roger Stone prosecutors quit after furor over Trump ally's sentence - CNBC "What the mayor said was unacceptable and does not represent city council," said Mayor Pro Tem George Turner. 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. Lary and others falsely claimed that the money would be each businesss contribution to Stonecrest-related marketing and advertising. 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. STONECREST, Ga. Editor's note: The video above is from a previous story. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. "I came back too early from my second round with cancer. 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. The. Lary previously denied the accusations of fraud. He faces a max sentence of 35 years in prison. Lary is expected to be sentenced on July 13 at 10 a.m. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. 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. During a struggle to implement new city manager, Lary said he was facing what could be his third battle with cancer. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. No stone was more important than the cornerstone because the integrity of the whole structure depended on the cornerstone containing . A bookkeeper and spouse - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Facebook Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal federal pandemic relief funds. Prosecutors said the 59-year-old former mayor concocted a scheme to divert funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In January 2021, Boone used her access to one of MRPCs bank accounts to wire transfer approximately $108,000 of relief funds to a mortgage servicing company. Former Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary pleads guilty to federal - WAGA Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges, Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges, 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), more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, 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. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. . Charles Johnson, Sr., has pleaded guilty for not paying $1.4 million in payroll taxes and for failure to pay employment taxes. The potential stakes are high for offenders who break new guidelines. 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. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. The government said no marketing was ever done. Boone, who wrote the bulk of the checks using the stolen funds, agreed with that Friday in court. Jason Lary, the former mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty, according to a news release. Andrea V. Watson. Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges 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,. In January, Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. Channel 2s Audrey Washington called and emailed Stonecrest officials about the announcement and the hack. Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. 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. Lock Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. The discussion comes after the censure of Stonecrest's mayor for comments he made during a meeting. 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. As mayor, he took control of who received $6.2 million in CARES Act money. Stonecrest sets May election date to replace mayor after guilty - ajc A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. Boone is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12. I will show you my hairy behind next time it happens and that's the only warning I'm going to give with this.". She also agreed to pay restitution. Instead of being a trustworthy steward of CARES Act funding, Clarence Boone and his co-conspirators schemed to misappropriate those funds to enrich themselves at the expense of those less fortunate. Since Larys term was set to expire at the end of 2023, the city charter requires a special election to fill his post. 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. Yet Lary and others asked that these contributions be given not to Stonecrest, but to entities called Visit Us, Inc. and Battleground Media, LLC. Lary also made the defendants wife, Lania Boone, the bookkeeper charged with distributing relief funds. All rights reserved. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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. . 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. Lania Boone, Larys co-conspirator, pleaded guilty to conspiracy on February 11, 2022. 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. 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. Former mayor admits role in COVID relief fraud scheme Instead, prosecutors said Lary used the money to cover his own tax liabilities and pay off the mortgage on his lake house. A judge will have the final say on her sentencing; her conspiracy charge carries a maximum of five years behind bars. The last day Stonecrest residents can register to vote in time for the special election is April 25. Lary continued with the meeting after an IT tech fixed the problem. 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. Official websites use .gov His legal team is citing his health and lack of criminal record should merit a lighter sentence. 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. He was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $119,607.69. Instead, Lary spent the money to pay his own property expenses and his dues to the Georgia Campaign Finance Committee. For example, Lary used relief funds held by Visit Us to pay for an associates political advertising.