Official websites use .gov For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The resolution also adopted a funding plan for most of Stonecrests relief funds. A bookkeeper was also involved in the scheme and arraigned, records show. "There was never an interest on anybodys part to kick back or filter money back or any of that nonsense.". His resignation went into effect Wednesday. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. Lary, 60, pleaded guilty in January to wire fraud, federal program theft and conspiracy to commit federal program theft. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. 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. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. In total, businesses were defrauded out of hundreds of thousands of dollars of relief funds. His sentencing is set for May 2. If you have additional information, pictures, or video email newstipsatlanta@fox.com. Lary and others falsely claimed that the money would be each businesss contribution to Stonecrest-related marketing and advertising. Lary and Boone knew the purpose of the transfer was to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront home owned by Lary. Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. FORMER MAYOR ADMITS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. 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. He resigned his post on Jan. 4 and accepted a plea deal the next day for concocting the scheme. Official websites use .gov 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. 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. "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. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call . 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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. 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 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. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. Main Office: Stonecrest did not disburse the $6 million allocated to the Stonecrest Cares Program and Small Business Program. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2022. 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,. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor C. Wilmot prosecuted the case. 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. The qualification period will take place roughly a month before the election date, and it must end 25 days before the election takes place. 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. 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. . 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. Suite 600 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. A lock ( 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. Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. In January, Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to. Lary issued a statement to FOX 5 about the censure: "My frustrations have boiled over with this council. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor Wilmot previously prosecuted the case. "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 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 asked potential recipients to kickback 25% of their grant to other companies for "marketing" purposes. 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 was arraigned in November 2021, accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. The relief funds deposited into the Visit Us and Battleground Media accounts were used by Lary to benefit himself and his associates. 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. 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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. Stonecrest residents that Jones talked to were outraged. Lary continued with the meeting after an IT tech fixed the problem. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. "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. Residents will soon get a chance to elect a new mayor in Stonecrest. "Quite frankly folks, now its turned ugly," he said during a news conference in April 2021. Stonecrest was required to spend the relief funds in accordance with the CARES Act. As mayor, he took control of who received $6.2 million in CARES Act money. 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. 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. 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. Jason Lary, who announced his resignation as the mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal. City leaders have not chosen a specific location for the special election to be held. The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal federal pandemic relief funds. accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW We have no response about the Mayors resignation, city officials said. A locked padlock Around the same time, Lary directed approximately $7,600 in stolen relief funds to be used for Boones sons college tuition and rent. Lary wont be required to report to prison until after Dec. 15, giving him time for more cancer treatments. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. The government said no marketing was ever done. 2023 Cox Media Group. At least two candidates have publicly said theyll run to be the citys next mayor. 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. 100 people involved in a total of $26 million in CARES Act fraud. Prosecutors said the 59-year-old former mayor concocted a scheme to divert funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford, Chief of Public Integrity and Civil Rights, is prosecuting the case. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. Later, in March 2021, after learning of an investigation into the citys handling of relief funds and knowing that the business had never filed paperwork to support the grant, Clarence Boone attempted to conceal the scheme by directing the businesss owner to submit an application that contained false statements, even though the Small Business Program had already ceased operations. 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. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Lania Boone, a bookkeeper Lary hired for one of companies, admitted to helping the former mayor siphon CARES act money for personal use. 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. Former Stonecrest mayor sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for stealing COVID-19 relief funds. But he was using it for his own personal needs..

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