Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal federal pandemic relief funds. "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.". Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. . Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to concocting a fraud scheme to steal more than $650,000 in federal pandemic relief funds. 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,. In September 2020, Jason Lary, then the Mayor of Stonecrest, signed a resolution acknowledging these CARES Act requirements. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the only news outlet at the hearing. He explained he needs to take some time to work with doctors and care for himself. The population is now 60,000 with a budget of more than $13 million. Roger Stone prosecutors quit after furor over Trump ally's sentence - CNBC This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Hardworking people like us, Will Morrell said. ATLANTA - After spending nearly a year proclaiming his innocence, former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary admitted masterminding a scheme to steal COVID relief funds. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call . 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In January, Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. The about-face came in. 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. 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. 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. Former Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty To Federal Fraud Charges I will show you my hairy behind next time it happens and that's the only warning I'm going to give with this.". If you have additional information, pictures, or video email newstipsatlanta@fox.com. He resigned his post on Jan. 4 and accepted a plea deal the next day for concocting the scheme. 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 city will hold a special election to select a new mayor. 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. 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. 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. Richard B. Russell Federal Building We have no response about the Mayors resignation, city officials said. Candidates must pay a $600 qualifying fee. Main Office: Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. Larys last public address to his constituents delivered one last bombshell moment to his tenure. Both Boone and Lary remain out of jail on bond until their sentencing hearings. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW 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. His sentencing is set for May 2. Charles Johnson, Sr., has pleaded guilty for not paying $1.4 million in payroll taxes and for failure to pay employment taxes. Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. Lary did not tell Church 1 at this time that he actually controlled REMC. 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. "If you don't know protocol, you better learn it with me," said Lary. Former Stonecrest mayor sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for stealing COVID-19 relief funds. ", 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. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 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. 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. Then, Lary caused the city to enter a contract with MPRC to disburse the relief funds as directed by Stonecrest. Around October 2021, the United States seized approximately $480,000 of fraud proceeds held in the bank accounts of Visit Us and Battleground Media. The plan provided $1 million to the Stonecrest Cares Program for mask distribution, COVID-19 education and testing, and other purposes. 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 potential stakes are high for offenders who break new guidelines. 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. STONECREST MAYOR RESPONDS TO ACCUSATIONS OF CARES ACT FUNDS MISUSE. Erskine told the FOX 5 I-Team he is accused of pocketing more than $650,000. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW 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. . Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges 100 people involved in a total of $26 million in CARES Act fraud. He declined to say what type of cancer he is battling but said it seems to be resurfacing for the third time. Lary also made the defendants wife, Lania Boone, the bookkeeper charged with distributing relief funds. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. He also settled income taxes he owed going back to 2015. 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. Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges - CBS 46 "He certainly, as alleged by the Grand Jury, used his position as mayor of Stonecrest to divert those funds and used his influence and connections," Erskine said. The qualification period will take place roughly a month before the election date, and it must end 25 days before the election takes place. Lary did not disclose he controlled these companies. Stonecrest ex-mayor's cohort pleads guilty in fraud scheme For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford, Chief of Public Integrity and Civil Rights, is prosecuting the case. Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. Instead, $108,000 dollars were transferred to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront propertyowned by the former mayor. Stonecrest did not disburse the $6 million allocated to the Stonecrest Cares Program and Small Business Program. Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty to Stealing Georgia COVID-19 Relief DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. They are purposely seeking to tear down everything I have worked to build in Stonecrest. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. A Georgia Senator said he was unsurprised to hear about the indictment. 2023 Cox Media Group. DeKalb County then disbursed $6.2 million of these relief funds to Stonecrest. 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. 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. Former Mayor of Stonecrest sentenced to prison for stealing COVID-19 "I did the best I could do with what we had in place.". 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 allegedly had the city improperly enter into a contract with a recently founded nonprofit, Municipal Resource Partners Corporation, to distribute the citys funds as a way to siphon money toward himself and cohorts. 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. The indictment alleges that Smith stole more than $450,000 in Social Security Administration Northern District of Georgia Lary, who faces up to 35 years in prison, will be sentenced on May 2. Lary announced his resignation during a Zoom meeting on Tuesday. Lary directed $7,600 of the federal relief dollars to pay Boones sons college tuition and rent. Inpractice, the Stonecrest Cares Program directed relief funds to churches and non-profit organizations in and around Stonecrest. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Former Stonecrest mayor sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for 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. Lary was supposed to be in office until the end of 2023. None the less, I will continue to serve the people of the great city of Stonecrest.". That money was supposed to go to people like us. Sentencing is scheduled for May 12. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. In total, businesses were defrauded out of hundreds of thousands of dollars of relief funds. His sentencing hearing has been set for May 2. 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, 59, was the first mayor of Stonecrest, a DeKalb County city of about . Lary continued with the meeting after an IT tech fixed the problem. Stonecrest residents that Jones talked to were outraged. The judge says Lary's actions were "deplorable" and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. The details of Boones plea deal are similar to the one Lary accepted. . Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. 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 . Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. "Quite frankly folks, now its turned ugly," he said during a news conference in April 2021. Lary was arraigned in November 2021, accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. 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. 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. 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. 2021 5 Feb. "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone" ( Psalm 118:22 ). A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. For example, Lary used relief funds held by Visit Us to pay for an associates political advertising. BREAKING: A bookkeeper - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Facebook Library : Stone Rejected Has Become Cornerstone, The Lary is due in court to answer for fraud allegations. 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. "I ask that you measure me by the whole story," Lary said. 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. "There was never an interest on anybodys part to kick back or filter money back or any of that nonsense.". Main Office: Lock His resignation went into effect Wednesday. The three conspired to steal and misappropriate relief funds intended for struggling businesses in Stonecrest. 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. 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. He has not been charged with a crime. 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. Stone clemency order shows Trump wiped prison sentence, supervised 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. Lock 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 first mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to the federal charges earlier this year. 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.. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. Author: 11alive.com Published: 6:24 PM EST February 11, 2022 Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges | AP News The Stone that the Builders Rejected Became the Cornerstone? Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor C. Wilmot prosecuted the case. The first is verse 22, "The stone rejected by the builders has become the corner-stone". A bookkeeper and spouse of a - DeKalb County News Now | Facebook The people of Stonecrest deserved better, and corrupt officials can expect severe consequences for using their offices to commit crimes.. Suite 600 As you can tell with technology, it can be immature and ridiculous, and thats fine, Lary said. The. 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. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges 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 . By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.