former stonecrest mayor's accomplice pleads guilty to felony

ATLANTA - After spending nearly a year proclaiming his innocence, former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary admitted masterminding a scheme to steal COVID relief funds. Lary continued with the meeting after an IT tech fixed the problem. 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. 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. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. 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. In Larys guilty plea, he admitted to making sure that Boone was hired as Municipal Resource Partners bookkeeper. None the less, I will continue to serve the people of the great city of Stonecrest.". The image comes from the ancient quarries where highly-trained stonemasons carefully chose the stones used in construction. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the only news outlet at the hearing. He also resigned as the citys mayor. Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. 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. 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. Jason Lary, whose resignation. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 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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.. 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. 2023 Cox Media Group. Larys last public address to his constituents delivered one last bombshell moment to his tenure. Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to concocting a fraud scheme to steal more than $650,000 in federal pandemic relief funds. 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 censure stemmed from remarks Mayor Lary made at the end of a council meeting on Sept. 27. Third, Lary and others acting on his behalf solicited relief funds from businesses that received grants under the Small Business Program. 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. A lock ( 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. He declined to say what type of cancer he is battling but said it seems to be resurfacing for the third time. 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 . Later, in March 2021, after learning of an investigation into the citys handling of relief funds and knowing that the business had never filed paperwork to support the grant, Clarence Boone attempted to conceal the scheme by directing the businesss owner to submit an application that contained false statements, even though the Small Business Program had already ceased operations. 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. As mayor, he took control of who received $6.2 million in CARES Act money. 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. 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. "What the mayor said was unacceptable and does not represent city council," said Mayor Pro Tem George Turner. As you can tell with technology, it can be immature and ridiculous, and thats fine, Lary said. 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. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. February 21, 2022 Chris Butler. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. He does not have to report to prison until Dec. 15, so he can continue treatment for prostate cancer. The three conspired to steal and misappropriate relief funds intended for struggling businesses in Stonecrest. "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. 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. Lary was arraigned in November 2021, accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. Those duties include acting as the figurehead of the city and appointing members to boards and committees. He's accused of federal fraud related to COVID-19 relief funds. The indictment alleges that Smith stole more than $450,000 in Social Security Administration Northern District of Georgia An official website of the United States government. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor Wilmot previously prosecuted the case. 2023 FOX Television Stations. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Official websites use .gov The city of Stonecrest could hold a special election as early as March to decide Larys replacement. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. In or about November 2020, Stonecrest published an application on its website for businesses to apply for relief funds under the Small Business Program. 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Russell Federal Building 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. 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. At least two candidates have publicly said theyll run to be the citys next mayor. Jones tried to get a comment from Larys attorney after court, but he refused to make a statement. 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 former mayor of Stonecrest who pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges is making a punishment request. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal . Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal federal pandemic relief funds. Boone was the companys bookkeeper and wrote multiple checks to disburse the funds, records show. He explained he needs to take some time to work with doctors and care for himself. The plan provided $1 million to the Stonecrest Cares Program for mask distribution, COVID-19 education and testing, and other purposes. For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. "It's time for me to retire from politics and focus on my health," Lary said. Hopefully, he gets all of that, Morrell said. Residents will soon get a chance to elect a new mayor in Stonecrest. (Art by Richard Miller). In September 2020, Jason Lary, then the Mayor of Stonecrest, signed a resolution acknowledging these CARES Act requirements. 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. Have a question about Government Services? ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. ", 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. Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A judge will have the final say on her sentencing; her conspiracy charge carries a maximum of five years behind bars. 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 qualification period will take place roughly a month before the election date, and it must end 25 days before the election takes place. The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. The relief funds deposited into the Visit Us and Battleground Media accounts were used by Lary to benefit himself and his associates. His sentencing is set for May 2. Lary used three different methods to steal the funds Stonecrest disbursed to MRPC. Instead, $108,000 dollars were transferred to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront propertyowned by the former mayor. "Boones guilty plea further demonstrates our commitment to prosecuting those who seek to exploit COVID relief programs for their own gain. Deana Timberlake-Wiley, Boones attorney, and federal prosecutors declined to comment. Yet Lary and others asked that these contributions be given not to Stonecrest, but to entities called Visit Us, Inc. and Battleground Media, LLC. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]. In a special-called meeting, members of the Stonecrest City Council voted 4-1 to censure Lary. The phrase is quoted by Jesus, who applies it to his mission of death and glory, after having told the . Check back for details. 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. 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. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. The judge says Lary's actions were "deplorable" and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. He said he had surgery in late December 2020. ATLANTA (AP) A suburban Atlanta mayor pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges a day after announcing his resignation from 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. Lary issued a statement to FOX 5 about the censure: "My frustrations have boiled over with this council. First, Lary conspired with Boone to steal relief funds before they were disbursed by MRPC. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. 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. 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. Lary, 59, was the first mayor of Stonecrest, a DeKalb County city of about . 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. 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. 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. 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. His legal team is citing his health and lack of criminal record should merit a lighter sentence. Official websites use .gov [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]. The. Stonecrest was required to spend the relief funds in accordance with the CARES Act. "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.". 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. 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. 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. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. 100 people involved in a total of $26 million in CARES Act fraud. 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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. Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. A locked padlock The details of Boones plea deal are similar to the one Lary accepted. Stonecrest did not disburse the $6 million allocated to the Stonecrest Cares Program and Small Business Program. The government said no marketing was ever done. Jason Lary stole more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds meant to help the. 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. 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. In return, prosecutors recommended a lighter sentence of 366 days in confinement half in prison and half as home arrest. 2022-02-12 - By Zachary Hansen zachary.hansen@ajc.com. The federal government permitted DeKalb County to further disburse these relief funds to its municipalities. 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. Around the same time, Lary directed approximately $7,600 in stolen relief funds to be used for Boones sons college tuition and rent. 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. Cobbles term is set to expire in 2026, so another special election will be necessary. 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. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. The people of Stonecrest deserved better, and corrupt officials can expect severe consequences for using their offices to commit crimes.. 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. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. 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. His sentencing is set for May 2. 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 .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. We are putting measures into place to prevent what we experienced during the meeting.. 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. 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. 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,. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. Those companies were all connected to Lary. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford, Chief of Public Integrity and Civil Rights, is prosecuting the case. 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. 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's accomplice pleads guilty to felony 2023