former stonecrest mayor's accomplice pleads guilty to felony

U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. 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. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. 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 . Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. Lock All rights reserved. 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. 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. Richard B. Russell Federal Building For example, Lary used relief funds held by Visit Us to pay for an associates political advertising. 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. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 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. 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. 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. 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. Lary, 59, was the first mayor of Stonecrest, a DeKalb County city of about . 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. The resolution also adopted a funding plan for most of Stonecrests relief funds. 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. A lock ( 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. 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. Residents will soon get a chance to elect a new mayor in Stonecrest. 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. At least two candidates have publicly said theyll run to be the citys next mayor. 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. 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,. The former mayor of Stonecrest who pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges is making a punishment request. In a special-called meeting, members of the Stonecrest City Council voted 4-1 to censure Lary. 2023 Cox Media Group. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. "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.". Third, Lary and others acting on his behalf solicited relief funds from businesses that received grants under the Small Business Program. Suite 600 Instead, Lary spent the money to pay his own property expenses and his dues to the Georgia Campaign Finance Committee. I will show you my hairy behind next time it happens and that's the only warning I'm going to give with this.". 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. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. 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. ATLANTA - After spending nearly a year proclaiming his innocence, former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary admitted masterminding a scheme to steal COVID relief funds. No stone was more important than the cornerstone because the integrity of the whole structure depended on the cornerstone containing . The first mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to the federal charges earlier this year. He's accused of federal fraud related to COVID-19 relief funds. In total, businesses were defrauded out of hundreds of thousands of dollars of relief funds. 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.. Since Larys term was set to expire at the end of 2023, the city charter requires a special election to fill his post. He said he had surgery in late December 2020. Stone clemency order shows Trump wiped prison sentence, supervised Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than. 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. BREAKING: A bookkeeper - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Facebook Main Office: 2021 5 Feb. "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone" ( Psalm 118:22 ). The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the only news outlet at the hearing. In September 2020, Jason Lary, then the Mayor of Stonecrest, signed a resolution acknowledging these CARES Act requirements. 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. Andrea V. Watson. 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. A locked padlock 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. 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). The city's first mayor did not mention his legal troubles in a resignation speech. They are purposely seeking to tear down everything I have worked to build in Stonecrest. The judge says Lary's actions were "deplorable" and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. He also resigned as the citys mayor. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]. Lary wont be required to report to prison until after Dec. 15, giving him time for more cancer treatments. The image comes from the ancient quarries where highly-trained stonemasons carefully chose the stones used in construction. "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. Lary announced his resignation during a Zoom meeting on Tuesday. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. But he was using it for his own personal needs.. 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. 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. Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. The government said no marketing was ever done. 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. For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. A Georgia Senator said he was unsurprised to hear about the indictment. A lock ( Wilmot said Lary used some of that stolen money to pay off the $108,147 mortgage on his lakefront home in Macon. This story is breaking. The plan provided $1 million to the Stonecrest Cares Program for mask distribution, COVID-19 education and testing, and other purposes. "Boones guilty plea further demonstrates our commitment to prosecuting those who seek to exploit COVID relief programs for their own gain. Suite 600 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. Deana Timberlake-Wiley, Boones attorney, and federal prosecutors declined to comment. His plea came the same morning his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. 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. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call . 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. Lania Boone received a sentence of six months and one day in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,657.47. Charles Johnson, Sr., has pleaded guilty for not paying $1.4 million in payroll taxes and for failure to pay employment taxes. Prosecutors said the 59-year-old former mayor concocted a scheme to divert funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The population is now 60,000 with a budget of more than $13 million. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor Wilmot previously prosecuted the case. 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. 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. That decision will be made at a later date. Have a question about Government Services? Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Boone is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12. Stonecrest residents that Jones talked to were outraged. Boones case matches the legal process used by Jason Lary, the founding mayor of Stonecrest. That money was supposed to go to people like us. Stonecrest was required to spend the relief funds in accordance with the CARES Act. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal federal pandemic relief funds. Lary, who faces up to 35 years in prison, will be sentenced on May 2. Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. A bookkeeper was also involved in the scheme and arraigned, records show. Lary placed the defendant, Clarence Boone, who was then Senior Economic Development Manager for Stonecrest, in charge of overseeing the Small Business Program. Jason Lary stole more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds meant to help the. Lary also made the defendants wife, Lania Boone, the bookkeeper charged with distributing relief funds. 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. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Lary used three different methods to steal the funds Stonecrest disbursed to MRPC. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Both Boone and Lary remain out of jail on bond until their sentencing hearings. 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. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. 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. She also agreed to pay restitution. Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty to Stealing Georgia COVID-19 Relief A locked padlock Former Mayor of Stonecrest sentenced to prison for stealing COVID-19 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. 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. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. 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 . He resigned his post on Jan. 4 and accepted a plea deal the next day for concocting the scheme. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call Tuesday.. 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. 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.

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