By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Main Office: 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. In return, prosecutors recommended a lighter sentence of 366 days in confinement half in prison and half as home arrest. All rights reserved. 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.. In Larys guilty plea, he admitted to making sure that Boone was hired as Municipal Resource Partners bookkeeper. The government said no marketing was ever done. 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. Yet Lary and others asked that these contributions be given not to Stonecrest, but to entities called Visit Us, Inc. and Battleground Media, LLC. Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. Lary placed the defendant, Clarence Boone, who was then Senior Economic Development Manager for Stonecrest, in charge of overseeing the Small Business Program. 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), 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. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. 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. Instead, prosecutors said Lary used the money to cover his own tax liabilities and pay off the mortgage on his lake house. Have a question about Government Services? 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. 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. As you can tell with technology, it can be immature and ridiculous, and thats fine, Lary said. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. . 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. Charles Johnson, Sr., has pleaded guilty for not paying $1.4 million in payroll taxes and for failure to pay employment taxes. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. 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. Ronald Bell, who conspired to extort money from Georgia Institute of Technology, has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit extortion. ", 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 announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call Tuesday. 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. Since Larys term was set to expire at the end of 2023, the city charter requires a special election to fill his post. An official website of the United States government. In September 2020, Jason Lary, then the Mayor of Stonecrest, signed a resolution acknowledging these CARES Act requirements. February 21, 2022 Chris Butler. Cobbles term is set to expire in 2026, so another special election will be necessary. District 3 Councilwoman Jazzmin Cobble announced last week she will resign her post once she qualifies to run for mayor, and former District 5 councilwoman Diane Adoma told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution she will run as well. For example, Lary used relief funds held by Visit Us to pay for an associates political advertising. "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. The former mayor of Stonecrest who pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges is making a punishment request. The judge says Larys actions were deplorable and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. The population is now 60,000 with a budget of more than $13 million. Lary was arraigned in November 2021, accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. 2: Person of Interest. 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 details of Boones plea deal are similar to the one Lary accepted. Instead, Lary spent the money to pay his own property expenses and his dues to the Georgia Campaign Finance Committee. 2023 FOX Television Stations, resignation went into effect at 10 a.m. Wednesday, he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief. Boone, who wrote the bulk of the checks using the stolen funds, agreed with that Friday in court. (FOX 5). Channel 2s Audrey Washington called and emailed Stonecrest officials about the announcement and the hack. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. Andrea V. Watson. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW The relief funds were designed to cover costs during the public health emergency. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. 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. 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. Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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 . 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. But he was using it for his own personal needs.. Larys last public address to his constituents delivered one last bombshell moment to his tenure. We have no response about the Mayors resignation, city officials said. Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. 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. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]. 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 is due in court to answer for fraud allegations. The plan also provided $5 million to the COVID-19 CARES Act Small Business Program (Small Business Program). 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. Lania Boone, a bookkeeper Lary hired for one of companies, admitted to helping the former mayor siphon CARES act money for personal use. "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. In January, Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. "There was never an interest on anybodys part to kick back or filter money back or any of that nonsense.". The Internet address for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga. Candidates must pay a $600 qualifying fee. 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. 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. Lary and Boone knew the purpose of the transfer was to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront home owned by Lary. The censure stemmed from remarks Mayor Lary made at the end of a council meeting on Sept. 27. For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. Check back for details. Boone was the companys bookkeeper and wrote multiple checks to disburse the funds, records show. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. His plea came the same morning his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. 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. Lary, 59, was the first mayor of Stonecrest, a DeKalb County city of about . Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. The about-face came in. The church was then told to contribute $4,500 to REMC, which officials say the mayor used to pay his own property expenses and dues. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. Author: 11alive.com Published: 6:24 PM EST February 11, 2022 No stone was more important than the cornerstone because the integrity of the whole structure depended on the cornerstone containing . Lary is free on bond. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. 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. 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. Hopefully, he gets all of that, Morrell said. Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary on Wednesday pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft and conspiracy to commit federal program theft, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor Wilmot previously prosecuted the case. STONECREST MAYOR JASON LARY RESIGNS DAY BEFORE FEDERAL COURT DATE, FORMER STONECREST MAYOR ADMINS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. Lary asked potential recipients to kickback 25% of their grant to other companies for "marketing" purposes. This story is breaking. accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. Sentencing is scheduled for May 12. The three conspired to steal and misappropriate relief funds intended for struggling businesses in Stonecrest. BREAKING: 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. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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. Lary directed $7,600 of the federal relief dollars to pay Boones sons college tuition and rent. Former Stonecrest mayor, bookkeeper plead guilty to theft of COVID relief funds 585 views Feb 11, 2022 5 Dislike Share 11Alive 856K subscribers Jason Lary, the former mayor of. Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Have a question about Government Services? Lary previously denied the accusations of fraud. He explained he needs to take some time to work with doctors and care for himself. Richard B. Russell Federal Building First, Lary conspired with Boone to steal relief funds before they were disbursed by MRPC. 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. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. His sentencing hearing has been set for May 2. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. FORMER MAYOR ADMITS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. 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. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. 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. As mayor, he took control of who received $6.2 million in CARES Act money. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call . Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2022. 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. 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. The judge says Lary's actions were "deplorable" and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. Suite 600 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. Lary and others falsely claimed that the money would be each businesss contribution to Stonecrest-related marketing and advertising. 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. He also settled income taxes he owed going back to 2015. 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 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.
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