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. Wilmot said Lary used some of that stolen money to pay off the $108,147 mortgage on his lakefront home in Macon. 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. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. 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. The plan also provided $5 million to the COVID-19 CARES Act Small Business Program (Small Business Program).
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. Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. He declined to say what type of cancer he is battling but said it seems to be resurfacing for the third time. 2023 Cox Media Group. (FOX 5). Lary, 60, pleaded guilty in January to wire fraud, federal program theft and conspiracy to commit federal program theft. He also resigned as the citys mayor. Lary, 59, was the first mayor of Stonecrest, a DeKalb County city of about . 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. Lary won the mayors race twice, the citys only mayor in its brief history. If the special election for the mayors seat requires a runoff election, it will take place June 21. The censure stemmed from remarks Mayor Lary made at the end of a council meeting on Sept. 27. In September 2020, Jason Lary, then the Mayor of Stonecrest, signed a resolution acknowledging these CARES Act requirements. 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. "There was never an interest on anybodys part to kick back or filter money back or any of that nonsense.". Jason Lary, the former mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty, according to a news release. He does not have to report to prison until Dec. 15, so he can continue treatment for prostate cancer. 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. I should've stayed out for several months, but circumstances prevailed where I needed to come back earlier," Lary said. Boones case matches the legal process used by Jason Lary, the founding mayor of Stonecrest. Shes the wife of Clarence Boone, the citys former economic development director who was fired as a result of investigations in the citys relief program. 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. 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. He has not been charged with a crime. 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. A judge will have the final say on her sentencing; her conspiracy charge carries a maximum of five years behind bars. Main Office:
A lock ( Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal . The judge says Lary's actions were "deplorable" and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. 2023 FOX Television Stations. That decision will be made at a later date. None the less, I will continue to serve the people of the great city of Stonecrest.". Since Larys term was set to expire at the end of 2023, the city charter requires a special election to fill his post. 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.
Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges | AP News Have a question about Government Services? The last day Stonecrest residents can register to vote in time for the special election is April 25. Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. 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 . During a struggle to implement new city manager, Lary said he was facing what could be his third battle with cancer.
Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges 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. In another case, Lary allegedly gave a church $50,000. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television.
Former Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty To Federal Fraud Charges STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. "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. Jason Lary, whose resignation. 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. 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.
Stonecrest's Jason Lary COVID funds fraud case - 11Alive.com 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. Third, Lary and others acting on his behalf solicited relief funds from businesses that received grants under the Small Business Program. Lary continued with the meeting after an IT tech fixed the problem. Then, Lary caused the city to enter a contract with MPRC to disburse the relief funds as directed by Stonecrest. The three conspired to steal and misappropriate relief funds intended for struggling businesses in Stonecrest. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Boone agreed to cooperate with government agents, provide records and testify at future trials. 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). The first mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to the federal charges earlier this year.
Former Stonecrest mayor sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for Stone clemency order shows Trump wiped prison sentence, supervised FORMER MAYOR ADMITS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. Instead, $108,000 dollars were transferred to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront propertyowned by the former mayor. 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. Erskine told the FOX 5 I-Team he is accused of pocketing more than $650,000. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. ATLANTA (AP) A suburban Atlanta mayor pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges a day after announcing his resignation from office. An official website of the United States government. His legal team is citing his health and lack of criminal record should merit a lighter sentence. (Art by Richard Miller). "Boones guilty plea further demonstrates our commitment to prosecuting those who seek to exploit COVID relief programs for their own gain. Official websites use .gov
Former mayor admits role in COVID relief fraud scheme 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. 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 government said no marketing was ever done. The indictment alleges that Smith stole more than $450,000 in Social Security Administration Northern District of Georgia
STONECREST, Ga. Editor's note: The video above is from a previous story. 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 citys founding mayor. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. The population is now 60,000 with a budget of more than $13 million.
Former Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty To Federal Fraud Charges The discussion comes after the censure of Stonecrest's mayor for comments he made during a meeting. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. Lary previously denied the accusations of fraud. Instead, Lary spent the money to pay his own property expenses and his dues to the Georgia Campaign Finance Committee. 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. 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. Those companies were all connected to Lary. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW
Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. No stone was more important than the cornerstone because the integrity of the whole structure depended on the cornerstone containing . 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 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. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the only news outlet at the hearing.
Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Ignoring input from the official selection committee, from about November 2020, until about February 2021, Boone signed dozens of checks on behalf of MRPC, directing relief funds to individuals, businesses, churches, and non-profit organizations of Larys own choosing.
The relief funds deposited into the Visit Us and Battleground Media accounts were used by Lary to benefit himself and his associates. 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. In a special-called meeting, members of the Stonecrest City Council voted 4-1 to censure Lary. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds.
Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Main Office:
The relief funds were designed to cover costs during the public health emergency. His sentencing is set for May 2. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds.
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. 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. Richard B. Russell Federal Building
A bookkeeper and spouse - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Facebook ", 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 phrase is quoted by Jesus, who applies it to his mission of death and glory, after having told the . He resigned his post on Jan. 4 and accepted a plea deal the next day for concocting the scheme. He explained he needs to take some time to work with doctors and care for himself. 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 resolution also adopted a funding plan for most of Stonecrests relief funds. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call Tuesday.. 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. For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. If you have additional information, pictures, or video email newstipsatlanta@fox.com. 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. Boone, who wrote the bulk of the checks using the stolen funds, agreed with that Friday in court. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. We are putting measures into place to prevent what we experienced during the meeting.. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. 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 Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor Wilmot previously prosecuted the case. 100 people involved in a total of $26 million in CARES Act fraud.
Former Stonecrest mayor, bookkeeper plead guilty to theft of COVID 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.
Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. Police searching for suspect in northwestern Georgia elementary school burglary, Dunwoody Police catch man impersonating officer, Ex-officer charged in Susana Morales' death now charged in 2019 Snellville burglary, Frederick, MD tanker explosion leaves 1 dead; Shuts down part of US-15, Photos show rescue of Woodstock man 'buried up to his neck' in collapsed trench, Clayton County twin sisters make history rising the ranks in Georgia UPS facility, Prominent Roswell restaurant owner charged with sexual crimes involving 2 minors, Families intensify search for two men missing for more than a week, Disneyland banned Rebel Wilson over selfie, actress says, Police issue close to 100 traffic tickets at same Sandy Springs intersection, Georgia baby girl reported missing with man diagnosed with mental illness, police say, Sheriff's office continues five-year-long search for missing Carrollton man. For example, Lary used relief funds held by Visit Us to pay for an associates political advertising. 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. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 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. He faces a max sentence of 35 years in prison.