former stonecrest mayor's accomplice pleads guilty to felony

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. 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. 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. Those duties include acting as the figurehead of the city and appointing members to boards and committees. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. The U.S. Attorney's Office alleges Mayor Jason Lary misused $6.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds. (Art by Richard Miller). On Wednesday, Channel 2s Tom Jones was in the courtroom as Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. 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. Lary used three different methods to steal the funds Stonecrest disbursed to MRPC. A lock ( 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. 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. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. 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. 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 . In Larys guilty plea, he admitted to making sure that Boone was hired as Municipal Resource Partners bookkeeper. Lary placed the defendant, Clarence Boone, who was then Senior Economic Development Manager for Stonecrest, in charge of overseeing the Small Business Program. Suite 600 Lary also made the defendants wife, Lania Boone, the bookkeeper charged with distributing relief funds. 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. In return, prosecutors recommended a lighter sentence of 366 days in confinement half in prison and half as home arrest. Jones tried to get a comment from Larys attorney after court, but he refused to make a statement. In general, according to the Department of the Treasury, relief funds could only be used to cover costs that [were] necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency. But he was using it for his own personal needs.. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. 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. Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. That money was supposed to go to people like us. The people of Stonecrest deserved better, and corrupt officials can expect severe consequences for using their offices to commit crimes.. 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. Lary, who faces up to 35 years in prison, will be sentenced on May 2. The government said no marketing was ever done. Wilmot said Lary used some of that stolen money to pay off the $108,147 mortgage on his lakefront home in Macon. A judge will have the final say on her sentencing; her conspiracy charge carries a maximum of five years behind bars. In September 2020, Jason Lary, then the Mayor of Stonecrest, signed a resolution acknowledging these CARES Act requirements. No stone was more important than the cornerstone because the integrity of the whole structure depended on the cornerstone containing . The last day Stonecrest residents can register to vote in time for the special election is April 25. The federal government permitted DeKalb County to further disburse these relief funds to its municipalities. His sentencing is set for May 2. 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, GA 30303-3309. ATLANTA - After spending nearly a year proclaiming his innocence, former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary admitted masterminding a scheme to steal COVID relief funds. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. Official websites use .gov Ronald Bell, who conspired to extort money from Georgia Institute of Technology, has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit extortion. 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. 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. Check back for details. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. Lary previously denied the accusations of fraud. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga. The relief funds deposited into the Visit Us and Battleground Media accounts were used by Lary to benefit himself and his associates. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. Lania Boone, Larys co-conspirator, pleaded guilty to conspiracy on February 11, 2022. Lary did not disclose he controlled these companies. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW Until a new mayor is elected, the mayors responsibilities will be handled by the mayor pro tem. 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. 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. Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. Lary asked potential recipients to kickback 25% of their grant to other companies for "marketing" purposes. Police searching for suspect in northwestern Georgia elementary school burglary, Dunwoody Police catch man impersonating officer, Ex-officer charged in Susana Morales' death now charged in 2019 Snellville burglary, Frederick, MD tanker explosion leaves 1 dead; Shuts down part of US-15, Photos show rescue of Woodstock man 'buried up to his neck' in collapsed trench, Prominent Roswell restaurant owner charged with sexual crimes involving 2 minors, Clayton County twin sisters make history rising the ranks in Georgia UPS facility, Alex Murdaugh killed wife, son to buy time, prosecutor says, Families intensify search for two men missing for more than a week, Disneyland banned Rebel Wilson over selfie, actress says, Georgia baby girl reported missing with man diagnosed with mental illness, police say, Sheriff's office continues five-year-long search for missing Carrollton man. Andrea V. Watson. "It's time for me to retire from politics and focus on my health," Lary said. 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. Stonecrest could hold a special election to fill the vacant mayor's seat as early as March. DeKalb County then disbursed $6.2 million of these relief funds to Stonecrest. 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 announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call . 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. 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. Instead, prosecutors said Lary used the money to cover his own tax liabilities and pay off the mortgage on his lake house. A locked padlock Lock The potential stakes are high for offenders who break new guidelines. Main Office: 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. 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. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. and were incurred during the period that [began] on March 1, 2020, and [ended] on December 30, 2020. Examples of eligible expenditures were medical expenses, public health expenses, and grants to small businesses to reimburse the costs of business interruption caused by required closures. "If you don't know protocol, you better learn it with me," said Lary. Candidates must pay a $600 qualifying fee. In court on Wednesday, Lary apologized to his family, friends and Stonecrest residents. STONECREST MAYOR RESPONDS TO ACCUSATIONS OF CARES ACT FUNDS MISUSE. 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. The three conspired to steal and misappropriate relief funds intended for struggling businesses in Stonecrest. The. The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. 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. The censure stemmed from remarks Mayor Lary made at the end of a council meeting on Sept. 27. They are purposely seeking to tear down everything I have worked to build in Stonecrest. The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. 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. Charles Johnson, Sr., has pleaded guilty for not paying $1.4 million in payroll taxes and for failure to pay employment taxes. 2023 FOX Television Stations, resignation went into effect at 10 a.m. Wednesday, he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief. 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 . Lania Boone, a bookkeeper Lary hired for one of companies, admitted to helping the former mayor siphon CARES act money for personal use. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. 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 Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor Wilmot previously prosecuted the case. 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. 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. 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. 2022-02-12 - By Zachary Hansen zachary.hansen@ajc.com. Lary and Boone knew the purpose of the transfer was to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront home owned by Lary. 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. Residents will soon get a chance to elect a new mayor in Stonecrest. Lary is free on bond. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga. Lary issued a statement to FOX 5 about the censure: "My frustrations have boiled over with this council. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]. He's accused of federal fraud related to COVID-19 relief funds. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the only news outlet at the hearing. ATLANTA (AP) A suburban Atlanta mayor pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges a day after announcing his resignation from office. In another case, Lary allegedly gave a church $50,000. 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.. Lary won the mayors race twice, the citys only mayor in its brief history. . He said he had surgery in late December 2020. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call Tuesday.. I should've stayed out for several months, but circumstances prevailed where I needed to come back earlier," Lary said. 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. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. 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. The judge says Lary's actions were "deplorable" and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. "Boones guilty plea further demonstrates our commitment to prosecuting those who seek to exploit COVID relief programs for their own gain. 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. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. Prosecutors said the 59-year-old former mayor concocted a scheme to divert funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. During a struggle to implement new city manager, Lary said he was facing what could be his third battle with cancer. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. 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. 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. Lary directed $7,600 of the federal relief dollars to pay Boones sons college tuition and rent. Boone, who wrote the bulk of the checks using the stolen funds, agreed with that Friday in court. 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). 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,.

former stonecrest mayor's accomplice pleads guilty to felony 2023