Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. Lania Boone, Larys co-conspirator, pleaded guilty to conspiracy on February 11, 2022. Suite 600 Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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. Jones tried to get a comment from Larys attorney after court, but he refused to make a statement. Boone agreed to cooperate with government agents, provide records and testify at future trials. The government said no marketing was ever done. He does not have to report to prison until Dec. 15, so he can continue treatment for prostate cancer. 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. This man's imprisonment shows why California's 'special circumstances Richard B. Russell Federal Building 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. In return, prosecutors recommended a lighter sentence of 366 days in confinement half in prison and half as home arrest. 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. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2022. "What the mayor said was unacceptable and does not represent city council," said Mayor Pro Tem George Turner. Former Mayor of Stonecrest sentenced to prison for stealing COVID-19 . 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW Since Larys term was set to expire at the end of 2023, the city charter requires a special election to fill his post. 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Russell Federal Building 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. 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. Former Stonecrest mayor sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for 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. The indictment alleges that Smith stole more than $450,000 in Social Security Administration Northern District of Georgia For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. 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 won the mayors race twice, the citys only mayor in its brief history. The city of Stonecrest could hold a special election as early as March to decide Larys replacement. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. Library : Stone Rejected Has Become Cornerstone, The Jason Lary, who announced his resignation as the mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal. Instead, prosecutors said Lary used the money to cover his own tax liabilities and pay off the mortgage on his lake house. If the special election for the mayors seat requires a runoff election, it will take place June 21. 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. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. Lary and others falsely claimed that the money would be each businesss contribution to Stonecrest-related marketing and advertising. Former mayor of metro Atlanta city pleads guilty to fraud Lary was supposed to be in office until the end of 2023. Main Office: The image comes from the ancient quarries where highly-trained stonemasons carefully chose the stones used in construction. 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. Lary, 60, pleaded guilty in January to wire fraud, federal program theft and conspiracy to commit federal program theft. Lary is due in court to answer for fraud allegations. Stonecrest was required to spend the relief funds in accordance with the CARES Act. Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. He declined to say what type of cancer he is battling but said it seems to be resurfacing for the third time. Residents will soon get a chance to elect a new mayor in Stonecrest. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal . Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. Lary, 59, was the first mayor of Stonecrest, a DeKalb County city of about . Check back for details. 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. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. Stonecrest sets May election date to replace mayor after guilty - ajc Stonecrest mayor charged in alleged misuse of CARES Act federal funds Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would. 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. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Sentencing is scheduled for May 12. The last day Stonecrest residents can register to vote in time for the special election is April 25. In court on Wednesday, Lary apologized to his family, friends and Stonecrest residents. "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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. STONECREST MAYOR RESPONDS TO ACCUSATIONS OF CARES ACT FUNDS MISUSE. Yet Lary and others asked that these contributions be given not to Stonecrest, but to entities called Visit Us, Inc. and Battleground Media, LLC. Lary wont be required to report to prison until after Dec. 15, giving him time for more cancer treatments. Hopefully, he gets all of that, Morrell said. The first mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to the federal charges earlier this year. Former Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty To Federal Fraud Charges 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. The phrase is quoted by Jesus, who applies it to his mission of death and glory, after having told the . Author: 11alive.com Published: 6:24 PM EST February 11, 2022 We are putting measures into place to prevent what we experienced during the meeting.. Former Stonecrest mayor, bookkeeper plead guilty to theft of - MSN Channel 2s Audrey Washington called and emailed Stonecrest officials about the announcement and the hack. Cobbles term is set to expire in 2026, so another special election will be necessary. That decision will be made at a later date. 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. 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. Lary, who faces up to 35 years in prison, will be sentenced on May 2. 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 Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges "If you don't know protocol, you better learn it with me," said Lary. Those duties include acting as the figurehead of the city and appointing members to boards and committees. 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. 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. "Instead of providing aid to Stonecrests deserving citizens, Lary allegedly diverted funds for his own use, including to pay off his taxes and the mortgage on his lakefront home.". All rights reserved. Have a question about Government Services? Boones case matches the legal process used by Jason Lary, the founding mayor of Stonecrest. Earlier this year, Lary pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud, conspiracy and federal program theft for his role in stealing more than $650,000. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. "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.". A Georgia Senator said he was unsurprised to hear about the indictment. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. Official websites use .gov I should've stayed out for several months, but circumstances prevailed where I needed to come back earlier," Lary said. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal federal pandemic relief funds. Lania Boone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal program theft on February 11, 2022. Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty to Stealing Georgia COVID-19 Relief "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 is expected to be sentenced on July 13 at 10 a.m. Jason Lary, the former mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty, according to a news release. Boone, who wrote the bulk of the checks using the stolen funds, agreed with that Friday in court. Stonecrest's former Senior Economic Development Manager pleads guilty An official website of the United States government. 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. As you can tell with technology, it can be immature and ridiculous, and thats fine, Lary said. 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. 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. The judge says Larys actions were deplorable and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. A bookkeeper was also involved in the scheme and arraigned, records show. Andrea V. Watson. 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. Lary continued with the meeting after an IT tech fixed the problem. 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,. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. The plan also provided $5 million to the COVID-19 CARES Act Small Business Program (Small Business Program). Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. An official website of the United States government. Have a question about Government Services? Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to concocting a fraud scheme to steal more than $650,000 in federal pandemic relief funds. 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. Former advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, Roger Stone, leaves the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse after being found guilty of obstructing a congressional investigation into . 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. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. "Quite frankly folks, now its turned ugly," he said during a news conference in April 2021. FORMER MAYOR ADMITS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. Former mayor asks judge if he can serve sentence from home after 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. 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. None the less, I will continue to serve the people of the great city of Stonecrest.". Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call . Former L.A. Councilmember Jose Huizar pleads guilty in corruption case Deana Timberlake-Wiley, Boones attorney, and federal prosecutors declined to comment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford, Chief of Public Integrity and Civil Rights, is prosecuting the case. 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. In another case, Lary allegedly gave a church $50,000. Stonecrest residents that Jones talked to were outraged. ", 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. 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. Bookkeeper admits to role helping former Stonecrest mayor steal COVID Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. 2022-02-12 - By Zachary Hansen zachary.hansen@ajc.com. Per federal rules, Stonecrest officials could only spend these relief funds on necessary expenditures related to . Boone is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12. The plan provided $1 million to the Stonecrest Cares Program for mask distribution, COVID-19 education and testing, and other purposes. 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. Instead, Lary spent the money to pay his own property expenses and his dues to the Georgia Campaign Finance Committee. His legal team is citing his health and lack of criminal record should merit a lighter sentence. Lary directed $7,600 of the federal relief dollars to pay Boones sons college tuition and rent. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. 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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. 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. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. The three conspired to steal and misappropriate relief funds intended for struggling businesses in Stonecrest. Later in December 2020 and January 2021, Clarence Boone coordinated with Lary and Lania Boone to use $108,155.52 of relief funds to pay off the mortgage on Larys lakefront home in Macon, Georgia, and used more than $7,600 of relief funds to pay college tuition, a meal plan, books, and rent for Clarence Boones son. 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. Lock His sentencing is set for May 2. In or about November 2020, Stonecrest published an application on its website for businesses to apply for relief funds under the Small Business Program. 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. The people of Stonecrest deserved better, and corrupt officials can expect severe consequences for using their offices to commit crimes., 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. 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. Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to. 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.. 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 . Boone was the companys bookkeeper and wrote multiple checks to disburse the funds, records show. 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. The 45-minute Zoom call in which he announced his resignation was hacked and briefly displayed a video game and then a brief snippet of pornography. The former mayor of Stonecrest who pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges is making a punishment request. Around the same time, Lary directed approximately $7,600 in stolen relief funds to be used for Boones sons college tuition and rent. In total, businesses were defrauded out of hundreds of thousands of dollars of relief funds. 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 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. "Boones guilty plea further demonstrates our commitment to prosecuting those who seek to exploit COVID relief programs for their own gain. A bookkeeper and spouse - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Facebook Stonecrest's Jason Lary COVID funds fraud case - 11Alive.com That money was supposed to go to people like us. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Last year the Northern District of Georgia US Attorney's office prosecuted at least 100 people involved in a total of $26 million in CARES Act fraud. 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. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]. Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges