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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. Lock 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 relief funds deposited into the Visit Us and Battleground Media accounts were used by Lary to benefit himself and his associates. "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. Lary announced his resignation during a Zoom meeting on Tuesday. In another case, Lary allegedly gave a church $50,000. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. Stonecrest was required to spend the relief funds in accordance with the CARES Act. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. 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. All rights reserved. . Lary faces up to 35 years in prison on all three counts. An official website of the United States government. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. InJuly 2020, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners voted to disburse some of the relief funds to its municipalities, including a $6.2 million grant to Stonecrest. The judge says Larys actions were deplorable and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. 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, churches and the people of the city. I let us down, he told the court, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Lary is free on bond. 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. If the special election for the mayors seat requires a runoff election, it will take place June 21. Charles Johnson, Sr., has pleaded guilty for not paying $1.4 million in payroll taxes and for failure to pay employment taxes. Third, Lary and others acting on his behalf solicited relief funds from businesses that received grants under the Small Business Program. 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. Those duties include acting as the figurehead of the city and appointing members to boards and committees. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. In January, Jason Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. . 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, who faces up to 35 years in prison, will be sentenced on May 2. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford, Chief of Public Integrity and Civil Rights, is prosecuting the case. Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. ", 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. 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. STONECREST, Ga. Editor's note: The video above is from a previous story. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges, Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges, WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta facebook feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta twitter feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta instagram feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta youtube feed(Opens a new window), more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, Reality star Honey Boo Boo was inside speeding Dodge Charger involved in chase with Ga. deputies, 49-year-old man shot multiple times during drug deal in northeast Atlanta, police say, A 17-year-old Gwinnett County girl thought she was taking Percocet; now shes dead, Man rescued after being accidentally buried alive in Cherokee County, Our capital city will die: Georgia senators reject proposal to separate Buckhead from Atlanta. An official website of the United States government. 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. 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. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal . "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.". Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. He said he had surgery in late December 2020. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. The federal government permitted DeKalb County to further disburse these relief funds to its municipalities. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 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. Candidates must pay a $600 qualifying fee. The phrase is quoted by Jesus, who applies it to his mission of death and glory, after having told the . The relief funds were designed to cover costs during the public health emergency. 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 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. A former suburban Atlanta mayor was sentenced to nearly five years in prison on Wednesday for masterminding a scheme to steal nearly $925,000 of the $6.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds that. Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. 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. In return, prosecutors recommended a lighter sentence of 366 days in confinement half in prison and half as home arrest. He also settled income taxes he owed going back to 2015. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. Lania Boone, Larys co-conspirator, pleaded guilty to conspiracy on February 11, 2022. City leaders have not chosen a specific location for the special election to be held. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. 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 . 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. Boone, who wrote the bulk of the checks using the stolen funds, agreed with that Friday in court. 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. 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. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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. He has not been charged with a crime. Lary, 60, pleaded guilty in January to wire fraud, federal program theft and conspiracy to commit federal program theft. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor C. Wilmot prosecuted the case. Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges, Former mayor of Stonecrest, bookkeeper plead guilty to theft of COVID-19 relief funds, LIST: Schools across Georgia closing early ahead of possible severe weather, Gallery of storm damage across GA: Send us your photos, videos, Firefighters rescue Cherokee County man buried up to his neck in trench, Excel Church gives despite recovery from fire, Father and 9-month-old daughter reported missing in Clayton County, 26-year-old woman shot while driving in Decatur, Sign up for Atlanta News First Newsletters. 2022-02-12 - By Zachary Hansen zachary.hansen@ajc.com. Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. FORMER MAYOR ADMITS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. 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. In or about November 2020, Stonecrest published an application on its website for businesses to apply for relief funds under the Small Business Program. Main Office: 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. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call Tuesday. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The first is verse 22, "The stone rejected by the builders has become the corner-stone". A lock ( No stone was more important than the cornerstone because the integrity of the whole structure depended on the cornerstone containing . The potential stakes are high for offenders who break new guidelines. The 45-minute Zoom call in which he announced his resignation was hacked and briefly displayed a video game and then a brief snippet of pornography. He explained he needs to take some time to work with doctors and care for himself. Boone agreed to cooperate with government agents, provide records and testify at future trials. 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. With Lary now 60 years old and with no criminal history, his legal team requested that house arrest, community service and statutory required supervision be considered for his sentence. Lary was supposed to be in office until the end of 2023. Jason Lary, whose resignation. 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. Residents will soon get a chance to elect a new mayor in Stonecrest. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. 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. Boones case matches the legal process used by Jason Lary, the founding mayor of Stonecrest. ATLANTA - After spending nearly a year proclaiming his innocence, former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary admitted masterminding a scheme to steal COVID relief funds. "If you don't know protocol, you better learn it with me," said Lary. The judge says Lary's actions were "deplorable" and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. 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. 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. "I ask that you measure me by the whole story," Lary said. Have a question about Government Services? 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. The government said no marketing was ever done. Lary wont be required to report to prison until after Dec. 15, giving him time for more cancer treatments. Lania Boone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal program theft on February 11, 2022. Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. Jones tried to get a comment from Larys attorney after court, but he refused to make a statement. Jason Lary, the former mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty, according to a news release. 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. A locked padlock 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. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He resigned his post on Jan. 4 and accepted a plea deal the next day for concocting the scheme. Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. His sentencing hearing has been set for May 2. Check back for details. Lary did not disclose he controlled these companies. The first mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to the federal charges earlier this year. 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. Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. 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. 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 . 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. Those companies were all connected to Lary. 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. Instead, $108,000 dollars were transferred to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront propertyowned by the former mayor. STONECREST MAYOR RESPONDS TO ACCUSATIONS OF CARES ACT FUNDS MISUSE. The. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. Lary did not tell the businesses that he controlled these entities. 2023 FOX Television Stations, resignation went into effect at 10 a.m. Wednesday, he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief. He also resigned as the citys mayor. The people of Stonecrest deserved better, and corrupt officials can expect severe consequences for using their offices to commit crimes.. Lary won the mayors race twice, the citys only mayor in its brief history. First, Lary conspired with Boone to steal relief funds before they were disbursed by MRPC. "It's time for me to retire from politics and focus on my health," Lary said. (FOX 5). U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. In total, businesses were defrauded out of hundreds of thousands of dollars of relief funds.