An official website of the United States government. 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. Cobbles term is set to expire in 2026, so another special election will be necessary. Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty to Stealing Georgia COVID-19 Relief ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. The phrase is quoted by Jesus, who applies it to his mission of death and glory, after having told the . Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor Wilmot previously prosecuted the case. . "The question of compassion to this Honorable Court is what is the appropriate sentenced for the conduct of this Defendant who, when confronted 'fessed up' and avoided costly indictment and made good faith efforts to cooperate with the Government," court documents read. Lary was arraigned in November 2021, accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. He has not been charged with a crime. 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. Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges - CBS 46 They are purposely seeking to tear down everything I have worked to build in Stonecrest. 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. 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. 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 did not tell Church 1 at this time that he actually controlled REMC. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Roger Stone prosecutors quit after furor over Trump ally's sentence - CNBC Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. I let us down, he told the court, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 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 city will hold a special election to select a new mayor. 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. Jason Lary, who announced his resignation as the mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal. 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. 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. Jason Lary stole more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds meant to help the. "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 Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. Lary announced his resignation during a Zoom meeting on Tuesday. 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 explained he needs to take some time to work with doctors and care for himself. Former Stonecrest mayor, bookkeeper plead guilty to theft of COVID The last day Stonecrest residents can register to vote in time for the special election is April 25. 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 September 2020, Jason Lary, then the Mayor of Stonecrest, signed a resolution acknowledging these CARES Act requirements. Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal federal pandemic relief funds. Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. The U.S. Attorney's Office alleges Mayor Jason Lary misused $6.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds. Lary, 59, was the first mayor of Stonecrest, a DeKalb County city of about . Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A locked padlock 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. "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. 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. (Art by Richard Miller). Former Stonecrest mayor sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for stealing COVID-19 relief funds. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. Instead, Lary spent the money to pay his own property expenses and his dues to the Georgia Campaign Finance Committee. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. Deana Timberlake-Wiley, Boones attorney, and federal prosecutors declined to comment. Ronald Bell, who conspired to extort money from Georgia Institute of Technology, has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit extortion. The government said no marketing was ever done. Check back for details. 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 . 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. At least two candidates have publicly said theyll run to be the citys next mayor. Former mayor admits role in COVID relief fraud scheme Former Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty To Federal Fraud Charges Lary wont be required to report to prison until after Dec. 15, giving him time for more cancer treatments. Lary, who faces up to 35 years in prison, will be sentenced on May 2. 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. Former mayor of Stonecrest pleads guilty to federal charges This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He declined to say what type of cancer he is battling but said it seems to be resurfacing for the third time. This story is breaking. 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. 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. 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. Hopefully, he gets all of that, Morrell said. All rights reserved. We have no response about the Mayors resignation, city officials said. 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. "I did the best I could do with what we had in place.". Third, Lary and others acting on his behalf solicited relief funds from businesses that received grants under the Small Business Program. Around the same time, Lary directed approximately $7,600 in stolen relief funds to be used for Boones sons college tuition and rent. 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. 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. The first mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to the federal charges earlier this year. In January, Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. Lary faces up to 35 years in prison on all three counts. . 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. The discussion comes after the censure of Stonecrest's mayor for comments he made during a meeting. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. ", 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. 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. 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. The details of Boones plea deal are similar to the one Lary accepted. his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. Library : Stone Rejected Has Become Cornerstone, The This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. Around October 2021, the United States seized approximately $480,000 of fraud proceeds held in the bank accounts of Visit Us and Battleground Media. Lary issued a statement to FOX 5 about the censure: "My frustrations have boiled over with this council. 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. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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. 2021 5 Feb. "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone" ( Psalm 118:22 ). By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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. Instead, $108,000 dollars were transferred to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront propertyowned by the former mayor. A Georgia Senator said he was unsurprised to hear about the indictment. In total, businesses were defrauded out of hundreds of thousands of dollars of relief funds. 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. Boones case matches the legal process used by Jason Lary, the founding mayor of Stonecrest. Former Stonecrest mayor sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for 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. Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges 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,. 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. 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. 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. Stonecrest's Jason Lary COVID funds fraud case - 11Alive.com 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. 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. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than. 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. 2: Person of Interest. Those companies were all connected to Lary. 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. In another case, Lary allegedly gave a church $50,000. 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. "Quite frankly folks, now its turned ugly," he said during a news conference in April 2021. 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. 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.. Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. In or about November 2020, Stonecrest published an application on its website for businesses to apply for relief funds under the Small Business Program. 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.. 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. Erskine told the FOX 5 I-Team he is accused of pocketing more than $650,000. Lock 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. Lary did not disclose he controlled these companies. Hardworking people like us, Will Morrell said. As you can tell with technology, it can be immature and ridiculous, and thats fine, Lary said. 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.