former stonecrest mayor's accomplice pleads guilty to felony former stonecrest mayor's accomplice pleads guilty to felony

The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. 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. 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. 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. Around the same time, Lary directed approximately $7,600 in stolen relief funds to be used for Boones sons college tuition and rent. Lary won the mayors race twice, the citys only mayor in its brief history. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges, Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges, Stonecrest mayor appeared in federal court about misusing CARES fund. Hopefully, he gets all of that, Morrell said. (Art by Richard Miller). Instead Lary worked behind the scenes to form a private company, Municipal Resource Partners Corporation, Inc. (MRPC), recruit its CEO, open its bank accounts, and ensure that Lania Boone, his convicted co-conspirator, would be hired as MRPCs bookkeeper. Lary did not tell Church 1 at this time that he actually controlled REMC. Former Stonecrest mayor, bookkeeper plead guilty to theft of COVID Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. The plan also provided $5 million to the COVID-19 CARES Act Small Business Program (Small Business Program). Until a new mayor is elected, the mayors responsibilities will be handled by the mayor pro tem. Sentencing is scheduled for May 12. Suite 600 She also agreed to pay restitution. 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. 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. The city's first mayor did not mention his legal troubles in a resignation speech. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than. The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. Lary issued a statement to FOX 5 about the censure: "My frustrations have boiled over with this council. Since Larys term was set to expire at the end of 2023, the city charter requires a special election to fill his post. Lary is expected to be sentenced on July 13 at 10 a.m. Former Stonecrest mayor, bookkeeper plead guilty to theft of COVID Main Office: Lary continued with the meeting after an IT tech fixed the problem. Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. 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. 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. 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. Lary, 60, pleaded. Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. Bookkeeper admits to role helping former Stonecrest mayor steal COVID Stonecrest could hold a special election to fill the vacant mayor's seat as early as March. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford, Chief of Public Integrity and Civil Rights, is prosecuting the case. 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. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW He was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $119,607.69. Library : Stone Rejected Has Become Cornerstone, The 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. "You don't recognize Mayor Pro Tem and council and just leave me standing there like I'm not in the meeting. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. His plea came the same morning his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. Jason Lary, the former mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty, according to a news release. No stone was more important than the cornerstone because the integrity of the whole structure depended on the cornerstone containing . Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Instead, Lary spent the money to pay his own property expenses and his dues to the Georgia Campaign Finance Committee. 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. 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. 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 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. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. The judge says Larys actions were deplorable and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. The relief funds were designed to cover costs during the public health emergency. Former mayor of Stonecrest pleads guilty to federal charges 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. On October 28, 2020, for example, Clarence Boone and Lary circumvented the application process and directed more than $50,000 to a business that they knew was not conducting any legitimate operations, and Lania Boone ultimately wrote the check to disburse the funds. 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 locked padlock 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. She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2022. Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. In or about November 2020, Stonecrest published an application on its website for businesses to apply for relief funds under the Small Business Program. 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. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The judge says Lary's actions were "deplorable" and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. Lary was supposed to be in office until the end of 2023. A bookkeeper was also involved in the scheme and arraigned, records show. "What the mayor said was unacceptable and does not represent city council," said Mayor Pro Tem George Turner. 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. For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. As you can tell with technology, it can be immature and ridiculous, and thats fine, Lary said. In Larys guilty plea, he admitted to making sure that Boone was hired as Municipal Resource Partners bookkeeper. Lary is free on bond. Lary asked potential recipients to kickback 25% of their grant to other companies for "marketing" purposes. 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. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal . He said he had surgery in late December 2020. In court on Wednesday, Lary apologized to his family, friends and Stonecrest residents. Have a question about Government Services? 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 government said no marketing was ever done. None the less, I will continue to serve the people of the great city of Stonecrest.". 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. 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. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. "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.". A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. We are putting measures into place to prevent what we experienced during the meeting.. (FOX 5). The details of Boones plea deal are similar to the one Lary accepted. If you have additional information, pictures, or video email newstipsatlanta@fox.com. The population is now 60,000 with a budget of more than $13 million. Lary directed $7,600 of the federal relief dollars to pay Boones sons college tuition and rent. The image comes from the ancient quarries where highly-trained stonemasons carefully chose the stones used in construction. A Georgia Senator said he was unsurprised to hear about the indictment. 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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. He declined to say what type of cancer he is battling but said it seems to be resurfacing for the third time. Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges Former Mayor of Stonecrest sentenced to prison for stealing COVID-19 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. Lania Boone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal program theft on February 11, 2022. His sentencing is set for May 2. . By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. I let us down, he told the court, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In one case, federal investigators alleged that Lary gave a church $150,000 under the condition that they would give a third of the money to a company called Real Estate Management Consultants LLC, which Lary controlled. Former Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty To Federal Fraud Charges 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. Lania Boone, a bookkeeper Lary hired for one of companies, admitted to helping the former mayor siphon CARES act money for personal use. The federal government permitted DeKalb County to further disburse these relief funds to its municipalities. Lary was also ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution as well. 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. Former advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, Roger Stone, leaves the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse after being found guilty of obstructing a congressional investigation into . They are purposely seeking to tear down everything I have worked to build in Stonecrest. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor Wilmot previously prosecuted the case. The about-face came in. Lary agreed that he diverted at least $650,000 in relief money by requiring Stonecrest churches and businesses to kick back a portion of their grant money to companies he controlled. Small businesses that applied for financial relief were asked on an application form if theyd be willing to give 25% of the grant to one of three companies to market their business. The potential stakes are high for offenders who break new guidelines. Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. Lary also made the defendants wife, Lania Boone, the bookkeeper charged with distributing relief funds. SB 300, also called the Sentencing Reform Act, would rewrite part of Proposition 115, a 1990 ballot initiative that expanded the definition of first-degree murder to include murder committed . We have no response about the Mayors resignation, city officials said. His sentencing is set for May 2. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the only news outlet at the hearing. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Official websites use .gov 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 announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call Tuesday.. In January, Jason Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. 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. Andrea V. Watson. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Boones case matches the legal process used by Jason Lary, the founding mayor of Stonecrest. 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. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 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.. 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. Boone, who wrote the bulk of the checks using the stolen funds, agreed with that Friday in court. Former Stonecrest mayor's accomplice pleads guilty to felony - ajc Former Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty To Federal Fraud Charges Former mayor asks judge if he can serve sentence from home after 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. 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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. ATLANTA (AP) A suburban Atlanta mayor pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges a day after announcing his resignation from office. Former Stonecrest mayor, bookkeeper plead guilty to theft of COVID 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). 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. First, Lary conspired with Boone to steal relief funds before they were disbursed by MRPC. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal federal pandemic relief funds. Inpractice, the Stonecrest Cares Program directed relief funds to churches and non-profit organizations in and around Stonecrest. 2023 Cox Media Group. Boone agreed to cooperate with government agents, provide records and testify at future trials. A bookkeeper and spouse of a - DeKalb County News Now | Facebook accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. Former Stonecrest mayor sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for 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. Lary used three different methods to steal the funds Stonecrest disbursed to MRPC. 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. 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. An official website of the United States government. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. During a struggle to implement new city manager, Lary said he was facing what could be his third battle with cancer. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. Former mayor of metro Atlanta city pleads guilty to fraud Stonecrest did not disburse the $6 million allocated to the Stonecrest Cares Program and Small Business Program. 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. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. In January, Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 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 church was then told to contribute $4,500 to REMC, which officials say the mayor used to pay his own property expenses and dues. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga. 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 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. 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. 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. 2: Person of Interest. Lary faces up to 35 years in prison on all three counts. The first mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to the federal charges earlier this year. Instead of being a trustworthy steward of CARES Act funding, Clarence Boone and his co-conspirators schemed to misappropriate those funds to enrich themselves at the expense of those less fortunate. 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. 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,. 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor C. Wilmot prosecuted the case. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. City leaders have not chosen a specific location for the special election to be held. Lary and Boone knew the purpose of the transfer was to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront home owned by Lary. Have a question about Government Services? In return, prosecutors recommended a lighter sentence of 366 days in confinement half in prison and half as home arrest. In a special-called meeting, members of the Stonecrest City Council voted 4-1 to censure Lary. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme.