Jones tried to get a comment from Larys attorney after court, but he refused to make a statement. Instead, $108,000 dollars were transferred to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront propertyowned by the former mayor. Former mayor of Stonecrest pleads guilty to federal charges Lary announced his resignation during a Zoom meeting on Tuesday. 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. He explained he needs to take some time to work with doctors and care for himself. The three conspired to steal and misappropriate relief funds intended for struggling businesses in Stonecrest. 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 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. 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. The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. Former L.A. Councilmember Jose Huizar pleads guilty in corruption case The former mayor of Stonecrest who pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges is making a punishment request. "If you don't know protocol, you better learn it with me," said Lary. Deana Timberlake-Wiley, Boones attorney, and federal prosecutors declined to comment. 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. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call Tuesday. His sentencing is set for May 2. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS BREAKING: A bookkeeper - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Facebook His resignation went into effect Wednesday. Former Stonecrest mayor sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for A bookkeeper and spouse of a - DeKalb County News Now | Facebook Boone is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12. The city will hold a special election to select a new mayor. Library : Stone Rejected Has Become Cornerstone, The In total, businesses were defrauded out of hundreds of thousands of dollars of relief funds. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. 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's accomplice pleads guilty to felony - ajc This story is breaking. 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. Official websites use .gov He also settled income taxes he owed going back to 2015. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. I let us down, he told the court, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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. Boones case matches the legal process used by Jason Lary, the founding mayor of Stonecrest. He also resigned as the citys mayor. Jason Lary stole more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds meant to help the. No stone was more important than the cornerstone because the integrity of the whole structure depended on the cornerstone containing . 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. 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. Channel 2s Audrey Washington called and emailed Stonecrest officials about the announcement and the hack. Instead, Lary spent the money to pay his own property expenses and his dues to the Georgia Campaign Finance Committee. For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. City leaders have not chosen a specific location for the special election to be held. Richard B. Russell Federal Building In Larys guilty plea, he admitted to making sure that Boone was hired as Municipal Resource Partners bookkeeper. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]. The indictment alleges that Smith stole more than $450,000 in Social Security Administration Northern District of Georgia 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. 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. For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor C. Wilmot prosecuted the case. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than. Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to. Larys last public address to his constituents delivered one last bombshell moment to his tenure. That decision will be made at a later date. Lary previously denied the accusations of fraud. Lary was supposed to be in office until the end of 2023. Stone clemency order shows Trump wiped prison sentence, supervised Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. STONECREST, Ga. Editor's note: The video above is from a previous story. In return, prosecutors recommended a lighter sentence of 366 days in confinement half in prison and half as home arrest. 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. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. Example video title will go here for this video, Should Be Alive Ep. Main Office: 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. 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. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. February 21, 2022 Chris Butler. 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. Lary did not tell the businesses that he controlled these entities. Lania Boone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal program theft on February 11, 2022. 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 . Lary betrayed the trust placed in him by the citizens of Stonecrest by stealing the very funds meant to help his constituents weather the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan said. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. Lock "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.". Lary continued with the meeting after an IT tech fixed the problem. Suite 600 2021 5 Feb. "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone" ( Psalm 118:22 ). 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. 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. "What the mayor said was unacceptable and does not represent city council," said Mayor Pro Tem George Turner. Lary wont be required to report to prison until after Dec. 15, giving him time for more cancer treatments. Lary, 60, pleaded guilty in January to wire fraud, federal program theft and conspiracy to commit federal program theft. A locked padlock 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 the special election for the mayors seat requires a runoff election, it will take place June 21. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW 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. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. She also agreed to pay restitution. Stonecrest's former Senior Economic Development Manager pleads guilty Lary was also ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution as well. 2: Person of Interest. But he was using it for his own personal needs.. A bookkeeper and spouse - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Facebook 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. Author: 11alive.com Published: 6:24 PM EST February 11, 2022 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. Former mayor asks judge if he can serve sentence from home after 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. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. 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. An official website of the United States government. 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. He declined to say what type of cancer he is battling but said it seems to be resurfacing for the third time. 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. 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 MAYOR ADMITS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. Suite 600 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. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. He does not have to report to prison until Dec. 15, so he can continue treatment for prostate cancer. I should've stayed out for several months, but circumstances prevailed where I needed to come back earlier," Lary said. Lary and Boone knew the purpose of the transfer was to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront home owned by Lary. 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 judge says Larys actions were deplorable and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. The 45-minute Zoom call in which he announced his resignation was hacked and briefly displayed a video game and then a brief snippet of pornography. His legal team is citing his health and lack of criminal record should merit a lighter sentence. Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges | AP News Lary issued a statement to FOX 5 about the censure: "My frustrations have boiled over with this council. Puede participar en nuestro ensayo sobre EPOC? Hopefully, he gets all of that, Morrell said. The judge says Lary's actions were "deplorable" and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. Later in December 2020 and January 2021, Clarence Boone coordinated with Lary and Lania Boone to use $108,155.52 of relief funds to pay off the mortgage on Larys lakefront home in Macon, Georgia, and used more than $7,600 of relief funds to pay college tuition, a meal plan, books, and rent for Clarence Boones son. Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. I will show you my hairy behind next time it happens and that's the only warning I'm going to give with this.". Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges The people of Stonecrest deserved better, and corrupt officials can expect severe consequences for using their offices to commit crimes.. In September 2020, Jason Lary, then the Mayor of Stonecrest, signed a resolution acknowledging these CARES Act requirements. Shes the wife of Clarence Boone, the citys former economic development director who was fired as a result of investigations in the citys relief program. "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. 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 . He was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $119,607.69. During a struggle to implement new city manager, Lary said he was facing what could be his third battle with cancer. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call . Lary did not disclose he controlled these companies. . Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges 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. 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. 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. Since Larys term was set to expire at the end of 2023, the city charter requires a special election to fill his post. Boone, who wrote the bulk of the checks using the stolen funds, agreed with that Friday in court. accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. Lary faces up to 35 years in prison on all three counts. 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. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. 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. Those companies were all connected to Lary. Official websites use .gov Lock 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. 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 mayor only votes in the event of a tie a rarity for a five-member City Council. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. Lary and others falsely claimed that the money would be each businesss contribution to Stonecrest-related marketing and advertising. Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. Former Stonecrest mayor, bookkeeper plead guilty to theft of - MSN 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. Lania Boone, Larys co-conspirator, pleaded guilty to conspiracy on February 11, 2022. Inpractice, the Stonecrest Cares Program directed relief funds to churches and non-profit organizations in and around Stonecrest. Lary is due in court to answer for fraud allegations. 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. Yet Lary and others asked that these contributions be given not to Stonecrest, but to entities called Visit Us, Inc. and Battleground Media, LLC. . 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. Around October 2021, the United States seized approximately $480,000 of fraud proceeds held in the bank accounts of Visit Us and Battleground Media. 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 lock ( He said he had surgery in late December 2020. Former Stonecrest mayor, bookkeeper plead guilty to theft of COVID 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 city of Stonecrest could hold a special election as early as March to decide Larys replacement. "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. An official website of the United States government.
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