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Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. Lary continued with the meeting after an IT tech fixed the problem. Check back for details. Stonecrest could hold a special election to fill the vacant mayor's seat as early as March. Inpractice, the Stonecrest Cares Program directed relief funds to churches and non-profit organizations in and around Stonecrest. I let us down, he told the court, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Lock 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. Lary is free on bond. "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. 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. Erskine told the FOX 5 I-Team he is accused of pocketing more than $650,000. 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. accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. "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. 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. He has not been charged with a crime. Lania Boone, Larys co-conspirator, pleaded guilty to conspiracy on February 11, 2022. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. 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. 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. 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 plan also provided $5 million to the COVID-19 CARES Act Small Business Program (Small Business Program). 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 and Boone knew the purpose of the transfer was to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront home owned by Lary. In court on Wednesday, Lary apologized to his family, friends and Stonecrest residents. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. 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. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. The U.S. Attorney's Office alleges Mayor Jason Lary misused $6.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds. Larys last public address to his constituents delivered one last bombshell moment to his tenure. Official websites use .gov Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor C. Wilmot prosecuted the case. 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. Per federal rules, Stonecrest officials could only spend these relief funds on necessary expenditures related to . 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 . Hopefully, he gets all of that, Morrell said. As mayor, he took control of who received $6.2 million in CARES Act money. 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. The details of Boones plea deal are similar to the one Lary accepted. 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. A locked padlock 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. 2021 5 Feb. "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone" ( Psalm 118:22 ). He also settled income taxes he owed going back to 2015. But he was using it for his own personal needs.. The indictment alleges that Smith stole more than $450,000 in Social Security Administration Northern District of Georgia In Larys guilty plea, he admitted to making sure that Boone was hired as Municipal Resource Partners bookkeeper. In or about November 2020, Stonecrest published an application on its website for businesses to apply for relief funds under the Small Business Program. 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. In another case, Lary allegedly gave a church $50,000. Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. His legal team is citing his health and lack of criminal record should merit a lighter sentence. Lary was supposed to be in office until the end of 2023. A former health care executive, Lary was instrumental in convincing the General Assembly to create the city of Stonecrest along I-20 in south DeKalb County. 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. The censure stemmed from remarks Mayor Lary made at the end of a council meeting on Sept. 27. Main Office: His resignation went into effect Wednesday. 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. (FOX 5). The city of Stonecrest could hold a special election as early as March to decide Larys replacement. He explained he needs to take some time to work with doctors and care for himself. 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. He does not have to report to prison until Dec. 15, so he can continue treatment for prostate cancer. Lary directed $7,600 of the federal relief dollars to pay Boones sons college tuition and rent. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. The qualification period will take place roughly a month before the election date, and it must end 25 days before the election takes place. 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. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. Former Stonecrest mayor sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for stealing COVID-19 relief funds. 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. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. Hardworking people like us, Will Morrell said. Suite 600 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 was accused of stealing more than. 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 then disbursed $6.2 million of these relief funds to Stonecrest. 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. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. 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. "I did the best I could do with what we had in place.". Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. STONECREST MAYOR JASON LARY RESIGNS DAY BEFORE FEDERAL COURT DATE, FORMER STONECREST MAYOR ADMINS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. Lary was arraigned in November 2021, accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. He declined to say what type of cancer he is battling but said it seems to be resurfacing for the third time. 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. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. She also agreed to pay restitution. A bookkeeper was also involved in the scheme and arraigned, records show. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. Richard B. Russell Federal Building Puede participar en nuestro ensayo sobre EPOC? Jason Lary, the former mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty, according to a news release. He said he had surgery in late December 2020. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. The three conspired to steal and misappropriate relief funds intended for struggling businesses in Stonecrest. Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. ATLANTA (AP) A suburban Atlanta mayor pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges a day after announcing his resignation from office. His sentencing is set for May 2. That decision will be made at a later date. Lock Until a new mayor is elected, the mayors responsibilities will be handled by the mayor pro tem. Around the same time, Lary directed approximately $7,600 in stolen relief funds to be used for Boones sons college tuition and rent. We are putting measures into place to prevent what we experienced during the meeting.. Both Boone and Lary remain out of jail on bond until their sentencing hearings. He's accused of federal fraud related to COVID-19 relief funds. Lary placed the defendant, Clarence Boone, who was then Senior Economic Development Manager for Stonecrest, in charge of overseeing the Small Business Program. The judge says Larys actions were deplorable and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. 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. 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. 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. "Boones guilty plea further demonstrates our commitment to prosecuting those who seek to exploit COVID relief programs for their own gain. Sentencing is scheduled for May 12. "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.". The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. Lary used three different methods to steal the funds Stonecrest disbursed to MRPC. First, Lary conspired with Boone to steal relief funds before they were disbursed by MRPC. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. The population is now 60,000 with a budget of more than $13 million. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. "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. Ronald Bell, who conspired to extort money from Georgia Institute of Technology, has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit extortion. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. Third, Lary and others acting on his behalf solicited relief funds from businesses that received grants under the Small Business Program. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to. Instead, $108,000 dollars were transferred to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront propertyowned by the former mayor. A lock ( 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). "What the mayor said was unacceptable and does not represent city council," said Mayor Pro Tem George Turner. She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2022. . 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. Have a question about Government Services? 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. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. The resolution also adopted a funding plan for most of Stonecrests relief funds. 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. 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. His plea came the same morning his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. Lary did not disclose he controlled these companies. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. An official website of the United States government. Suite 600 The city's first mayor did not mention his legal troubles in a resignation speech. Jason Lary, whose resignation. The relief funds deposited into the Visit Us and Battleground Media accounts were used by Lary to benefit himself and his associates. 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. In January, Jason Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. 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. Charles Johnson, Sr., has pleaded guilty for not paying $1.4 million in payroll taxes and for failure to pay employment taxes. Example video title will go here for this video, Should Be Alive Ep. FORMER MAYOR ADMITS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. 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. 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. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. The federal government permitted DeKalb County to further disburse these relief funds to its municipalities. Jason Lary stole more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds meant to help the. In September 2020, Jason Lary, then the Mayor of Stonecrest, signed a resolution acknowledging these CARES Act requirements. 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. 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.