"Boones guilty plea further demonstrates our commitment to prosecuting those who seek to exploit COVID relief programs for their own gain. While I was out on cancer leave, they removed me from every committee I created, refused to pay my car allowance, while paying six figures to the finance director and $209,000 annually to the acting city manager (including a car allowance). He's accused of federal fraud related to COVID-19 relief funds. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. The details of Boones plea deal are similar to the one Lary accepted. 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. 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. 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. "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. If you have additional information, pictures, or video email newstipsatlanta@fox.com. In court on Wednesday, Lary apologized to his family, friends and Stonecrest residents. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. . The first mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to the federal charges earlier this year. A locked padlock The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. Have a question about Government Services? 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. For example, Lary presented a check for $150,000 in relief funds to Church 1, on the condition that $50,000 be given to a company called Real Estate Management Consultants, LLC (REMC). Lary was also ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution as well. 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. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. Channel 2s Audrey Washington called and emailed Stonecrest officials about the announcement and the hack. 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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. Lary continued with the meeting after an IT tech fixed the problem. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal federal pandemic relief funds. They are purposely seeking to tear down everything I have worked to build in Stonecrest. 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. 2021 5 Feb. "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone" ( Psalm 118:22 ). Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. "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. 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. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW
(Art by Richard Miller). Jason Lary, who announced his resignation as the mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal. The qualification period will take place roughly a month before the election date, and it must end 25 days before the election takes place. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. 2023 FOX Television Stations, resignation went into effect at 10 a.m. Wednesday, he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief. 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. Lary resigned from his post as a mayor right before filing a guilty plea to the charges, citing health reasons and three battles with cancer. 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. 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. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. "I came back too early from my second round with cancer. Sentencing is scheduled for May 12. ATLANTA (AP) A former Georgia mayor will serve nearly five years in federal prison after stealing nearly $925,000 in COVID-19 relief funds that his city handed out. 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. The judge says Lary's actions were "deplorable" and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. Lary did not disclose he controlled these companies. 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. Lary is expected to be sentenced on July 13 at 10 a.m. 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. Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. "There was never an interest on anybodys part to kick back or filter money back or any of that nonsense.". 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW
Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. Lary used three different methods to steal the funds Stonecrest disbursed to MRPC. 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. 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, churches and the people of the city. 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 announced his resignation during a Zoom meeting on Tuesday. 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. Richard B. Russell Federal Building
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor Wilmot previously prosecuted the case. 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, 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. Instead, Lary spent the money to pay his own property expenses and his dues to the Georgia Campaign Finance Committee. The people of Stonecrest deserved better, and corrupt officials can expect severe consequences for using their offices to commit crimes.. 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. 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, said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. February 21, 2022 Chris Butler. STONECREST MAYOR RESPONDS TO ACCUSATIONS OF CARES ACT FUNDS MISUSE. The plan also provided $5 million to the COVID-19 CARES Act Small Business Program (Small Business Program). 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. The government said no marketing was ever done. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He said he had surgery in late December 2020. The relief funds deposited into the Visit Us and Battleground Media accounts were used by Lary to benefit himself and his associates. "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. Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call Tuesday. In January, Jason Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. Main Office:
"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. At least two candidates have publicly said theyll run to be the citys next mayor. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than. 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. 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. 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 federal government permitted DeKalb County to further disburse these relief funds to its municipalities. In another case, Lary allegedly gave a church $50,000. Official websites use .gov I should've stayed out for several months, but circumstances prevailed where I needed to come back earlier," Lary said. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS None the less, I will continue to serve the people of the great city of Stonecrest.". For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. 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. The mayor only votes in the event of a tie a rarity for a five-member City Council. 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,. 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's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor C. Wilmot prosecuted the case. A locked padlock Deana Timberlake-Wiley, Boones attorney, and federal prosecutors declined to comment. 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 . 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. Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. ATLANTA (AP) A suburban Atlanta mayor pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges a day after announcing his resignation from office. Stonecrest residents that Jones talked to were outraged. Charles Johnson, Sr., has pleaded guilty for not paying $1.4 million in payroll taxes and for failure to pay employment taxes. 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. She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2022. Since Larys term was set to expire at the end of 2023, the city charter requires a special election to fill his post. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. His sentencing hearing has been set for May 2. 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 . I let us down, he told the court, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 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. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the only news outlet at the hearing. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. 2: Person of Interest. Stonecrest could hold a special election to fill the vacant mayor's seat as early as March. FORMER MAYOR ADMITS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. The judge says Larys actions were deplorable and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. Boone is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12. Lary did not tell the businesses that he controlled these entities. Credit: Photo courtesy of Boston College Athletics, Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges, Stonecrest passes on March election date to replace mayor after guilty fraud plea, Jahmyr Gibbs: Georgia Tech helped make me who I am today, Georgia Tech closes regular season with win over Boston College. 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. He also settled income taxes he owed going back to 2015. Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. During a struggle to implement new city manager, Lary said he was facing what could be his third battle with cancer. The relief funds were designed to cover costs during the public health emergency. Lania Boone, Larys co-conspirator, pleaded guilty to conspiracy on February 11, 2022. DeKalb County then disbursed $6.2 million of these relief funds to Stonecrest. No stone was more important than the cornerstone because the integrity of the whole structure depended on the cornerstone containing . This story is breaking. "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.". Jason Lary stole more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds meant to help the. The indictment alleges that Smith stole more than $450,000 in Social Security Administration Northern District of Georgia
Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. 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. Lania Boone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal program theft on February 11, 2022. Lary also made the defendants wife, Lania Boone, the bookkeeper charged with distributing relief funds. 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. 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, 60, pleaded. Lary previously denied the accusations of fraud. "I ask that you measure me by the whole story," Lary said. He faces a max sentence of 35 years in prison. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call . In a special-called meeting, members of the Stonecrest City Council voted 4-1 to censure Lary. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. The U.S. Attorney's Office alleges Mayor Jason Lary misused $6.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds. The image comes from the ancient quarries where highly-trained stonemasons carefully chose the stones used in construction. 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. 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. She also agreed to pay restitution. The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. Those companies were all connected to Lary. Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. "What the mayor said was unacceptable and does not represent city council," said Mayor Pro Tem George Turner. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. Example video title will go here for this video, Should Be Alive Ep. . Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford, Chief of Public Integrity and Civil Rights, is prosecuting the case. His legal team is citing his health and lack of criminal record should merit a lighter sentence. For example, Lary used relief funds held by Visit Us to pay for an associates political advertising. The resolution also adopted a funding plan for most of Stonecrests relief funds. In Larys guilty plea, he admitted to making sure that Boone was hired as Municipal Resource Partners bookkeeper. 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. Lary won the mayors race twice, the citys only mayor in its brief history. Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. The potential stakes are high for offenders who break new guidelines. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. 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. 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. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call Tuesday.. The censure stemmed from remarks Mayor Lary made at the end of a council meeting on Sept. 27. We are putting measures into place to prevent what we experienced during the meeting.. Stonecrest was required to spend the relief funds in accordance with the CARES Act. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 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. 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. 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. Hardworking people like us, Will Morrell said. 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. "If you don't know protocol, you better learn it with me," said Lary. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to. Lary and Boone knew the purpose of the transfer was to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront home owned by Lary. Instead, prosecutors said Lary used the money to cover his own tax liabilities and pay off the mortgage on his lake house. 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.