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. Lary faces up to 35 years in prison on all three counts. Then, Lary caused the city to enter a contract with MPRC to disburse the relief funds as directed by Stonecrest. 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. 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. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. The plan provided $1 million to the Stonecrest Cares Program for mask distribution, COVID-19 education and testing, and other purposes. Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. "I came back too early from my second round with cancer. The censure stemmed from remarks Mayor Lary made at the end of a council meeting on Sept. 27. All rights reserved. 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. 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.. 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. 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. The people of Stonecrest deserved better, and corrupt officials can expect severe consequences for using their offices to commit crimes.. For example, Lary used relief funds held by Visit Us to pay for an associates political advertising. 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. I let us down, he told the court, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In a special-called meeting, members of the Stonecrest City Council voted 4-1 to censure Lary. 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 . 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. and were incurred during the period that [began] on March 1, 2020, and [ended] on December 30, 2020. Examples of eligible expenditures were medical expenses, public health expenses, and grants to small businesses to reimburse the costs of business interruption caused by required closures. "I did the best I could do with what we had in place.". His resignation went into effect Wednesday. Boone and the former Mayor conspired to fraudulently line each others pockets with relief funds that were desperately needed by struggling businesses in Stonecrest, said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. 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. 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. 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. Official websites use .gov The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. Lary is expected to be sentenced on July 13 at 10 a.m. The plan also provided $5 million to the COVID-19 CARES Act Small Business Program (Small Business Program). 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. Lary asked potential recipients to kickback 25% of their grant to other companies for "marketing" purposes. He resigned his post on Jan. 4 and accepted a plea deal the next day for concocting the scheme. The city of Stonecrest could hold a special election as early as March to decide Larys replacement. Charles Johnson, Sr., has pleaded guilty for not paying $1.4 million in payroll taxes and for failure to pay employment taxes. 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. Sentencing is scheduled for May 12. 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 . The former mayor of Stonecrest who pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges is making a punishment request. Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. "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. 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. 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. 2023 Cox Media Group. A locked padlock Stonecrest mayor appeared in federal court about misusing CARES fund 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. 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. Since Larys term was set to expire at the end of 2023, the city charter requires a special election to fill his post. Lary was arraigned in November 2021, accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. The City Council voted Monday to set the election date, determine qualifying information and formally ask ask the DeKalb County Board of Registrations and Elections to run the election. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. Lary continued with the meeting after an IT tech fixed the problem. Jason Lary, who announced his resignation as the mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal. Federal authorities brought the mayor of Stonecrest to court alleging he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief granted to the city. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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,. (FOX 5). Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. "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.". [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]. The potential stakes are high for offenders who break new guidelines. 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 Richard B. Russell Federal Building Lary was also ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution as well. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal federal pandemic relief funds. The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. 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 . Jason Lary, the former mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty, according to a news release. 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.. 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. 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. He faces a max sentence of 35 years in prison. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. 2022-02-12 - By Zachary Hansen zachary.hansen@ajc.com. Hardworking people like us, Will Morrell said. He explained he needs to take some time to work with doctors and care for himself. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor C. Wilmot prosecuted the case. Stonecrest could hold a special election to fill the vacant mayor's seat as early as March. The judge says Larys actions were deplorable and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. 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. Lary did not tell Church 1 at this time that he actually controlled REMC. Ronald Bell, who conspired to extort money from Georgia Institute of Technology, has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit extortion. Richard B. Russell Federal Building In Larys guilty plea, he admitted to making sure that Boone was hired as Municipal Resource Partners bookkeeper. 100 people involved in a total of $26 million in CARES Act fraud. Yet Lary and others asked that these contributions be given not to Stonecrest, but to entities called Visit Us, Inc. and Battleground Media, LLC. The image comes from the ancient quarries where highly-trained stonemasons carefully chose the stones used in construction. 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 another case, Lary allegedly gave a church $50,000. Stonecrest was required to spend the relief funds in accordance with the CARES Act. 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. Larys last public address to his constituents delivered one last bombshell moment to his tenure. Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. Lania Boone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal program theft on February 11, 2022. 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. A bookkeeper was also involved in the scheme and arraigned, records show. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. We are putting measures into place to prevent what we experienced during the meeting.. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. 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. The mayor only votes in the event of a tie a rarity for a five-member City Council. 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. "What the mayor said was unacceptable and does not represent city council," said Mayor Pro Tem George Turner. . 2023 Cox Media Group. his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. The details of Boones plea deal are similar to the one Lary accepted. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. 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. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga. He was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $119,607.69. 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. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. "I ask that you measure me by the whole story," Lary said. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. Lock 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. 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. 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. The three conspired to steal and misappropriate relief funds intended for struggling businesses in Stonecrest. "There was never an interest on anybodys part to kick back or filter money back or any of that nonsense.". "If you don't know protocol, you better learn it with me," said Lary. 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. A Georgia Senator said he was unsurprised to hear about the indictment. Stonecrest did not disburse the $6 million allocated to the Stonecrest Cares Program and Small Business Program. Until a new mayor is elected, the mayors responsibilities will be handled by the mayor pro tem. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Per federal rules, Stonecrest officials could only spend these relief funds on necessary expenditures related to . Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. He has not been charged with a crime. Lary directed $7,600 of the federal relief dollars to pay Boones sons college tuition and rent. The phrase is quoted by Jesus, who applies it to his mission of death and glory, after having told the . Check back for details. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. The relief funds deposited into the Visit Us and Battleground Media accounts were used by Lary to benefit himself and his associates. STONECREST MAYOR JASON LARY RESIGNS DAY BEFORE FEDERAL COURT DATE, FORMER STONECREST MAYOR ADMINS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. 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. the georgia gazette toombs county, henry county ga youth baseball 2022,