former stonecrest mayor's accomplice pleads guilty to felony

One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. (Art by Richard Miller). Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. Ronald Bell, who conspired to extort money from Georgia Institute of Technology, has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit extortion. Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to concocting a fraud scheme to steal more than $650,000 in federal pandemic relief funds. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]. 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. Erskine told the FOX 5 I-Team he is accused of pocketing more than $650,000. 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. Candidates must pay a $600 qualifying fee. Lary asked potential recipients to kickback 25% of their grant to other companies for "marketing" purposes. 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. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Suite 600 The former mayor of Stonecrest who pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges is making a punishment request. 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 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. He also resigned as the citys mayor. 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. 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. "The question of compassion to this Honorable Court is what is the appropriate sentenced for the conduct of this Defendant who, when confronted 'fessed up' and avoided costly indictment and made good faith efforts to cooperate with the Government," court documents read. 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. Jason Lary, who announced his resignation as the mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Hardworking people like us, Will Morrell said. STONECREST CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO CENSURE MAYOR AFTER IMMATURE PUBLIC REMARKS, "Lary allegedly abused the power and trust conferred on him as Mayor of Stonecrest to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars intended for COVID-19 relief," said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. 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. 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. ATLANTA - After spending nearly a year proclaiming his innocence, former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary admitted masterminding a scheme to steal COVID relief funds. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. The people of Stonecrest deserved better, and corrupt officials can expect severe consequences for using their offices to commit crimes.. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga. If you have additional information, pictures, or video email newstipsatlanta@fox.com. The U.S. Attorney's Office alleges Mayor Jason Lary misused $6.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds. Lary is due in court to answer for fraud allegations. 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 plea came the same morning his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. None the less, I will continue to serve the people of the great city of Stonecrest.". He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. "It's time for me to retire from politics and focus on my health," Lary said. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Father defends terrified family with machete after home intruder breaks through window in middle of night, Paolo Banchero scores 31 points, Magic beat Hornets 117-106. "Quite frankly folks, now its turned ugly," he said during a news conference in April 2021. Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. Check back for details. 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 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.. 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. The FBI and prosecutors found that $108,000 of relief funds were used to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront home owned by Lary, while another $7,600 was used to pay college tuition and rent for Boones son. 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. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. The first mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to the federal charges earlier this year. He's accused of federal fraud related to COVID-19 relief funds. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. Yet Lary and others asked that these contributions be given not to Stonecrest, but to entities called Visit Us, Inc. and Battleground Media, LLC. His sentencing is set for May 2. The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. 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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. 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. He resigned his post on Jan. 4 and accepted a plea deal the next day for concocting the scheme. I should've stayed out for several months, but circumstances prevailed where I needed to come back earlier," Lary said. 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. 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. For example, Lary used relief funds held by Visit Us to pay for an associates political advertising. 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. In or about November 2020, Stonecrest published an application on its website for businesses to apply for relief funds under the Small Business Program. Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. Boone agreed to cooperate with government agents, provide records and testify at future trials. 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. For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. The relief funds were designed to cover costs during the public health emergency. "Instead of providing aid to Stonecrests deserving citizens, Lary allegedly diverted funds for his own use, including to pay off his taxes and the mortgage on his lakefront home.". ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor Wilmot previously prosecuted the case. His legal team is citing his health and lack of criminal record should merit a lighter sentence. 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. Puede participar en nuestro ensayo sobre EPOC? 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 . Deana Timberlake-Wiley, Boones attorney, and federal prosecutors declined to comment. Those companies were all connected to Lary. 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. Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. 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. Channel 2s Audrey Washington called and emailed Stonecrest officials about the announcement and the hack. In another case, Lary allegedly gave a church $50,000. They are purposely seeking to tear down everything I have worked to build in Stonecrest. 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. In Larys guilty plea, he admitted to making sure that Boone was hired as Municipal Resource Partners bookkeeper. Instead, Lary spent the money to pay his own property expenses and his dues to the Georgia Campaign Finance Committee. 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. 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. Jones tried to get a comment from Larys attorney after court, but he refused to make a statement. Lary announced his resignation during a Zoom meeting on Tuesday. Richard B. Russell Federal Building In January, Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. Official websites use .gov Shes the wife of Clarence Boone, the citys former economic development director who was fired as a result of investigations in the citys relief program. For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. 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 announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call . Official websites use .gov The population is now 60,000 with a budget of more than $13 million. 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. A locked padlock Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. 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. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. 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. Larys last public address to his constituents delivered one last bombshell moment to his tenure. 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. Court documents show he was arraigned on the charges after relief funds expected to be allocated to the Stonecrest Cares Program and Small Business Program never made it to the city initiatives. She also agreed to pay restitution. Boone is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12. That money was supposed to go to people like us. Lary was supposed to be in office until the end of 2023. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga. Stonecrest residents that Jones talked to were outraged. 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. In return, prosecutors recommended a lighter sentence of 366 days in confinement half in prison and half as home arrest. 2: Person of Interest. The city's first mayor did not mention his legal troubles in a resignation speech. Author: 11alive.com Published: 6:24 PM EST February 11, 2022 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 judge says Lary's actions were "deplorable" and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. 2023 Cox Media Group. 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. 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. "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. 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. 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. Those duties include acting as the figurehead of the city and appointing members to boards and committees. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call Tuesday.. Stonecrest did not disburse the $6 million allocated to the Stonecrest Cares Program and Small Business Program. She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2022. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than. 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. Lary was arraigned in November 2021, accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. Suite 600 Lary placed the defendant, Clarence Boone, who was then Senior Economic Development Manager for Stonecrest, in charge of overseeing the Small Business Program. 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. An official website of the United States government. 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. "What the mayor said was unacceptable and does not represent city council," said Mayor Pro Tem George Turner. The three conspired to steal and misappropriate relief funds intended for struggling businesses in Stonecrest. The plan provided $1 million to the Stonecrest Cares Program for mask distribution, COVID-19 education and testing, and other purposes. Example video title will go here for this video, Should Be Alive Ep. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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,. Lock Lania Boone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal program theft on February 11, 2022. Both Boone and Lary remain out of jail on bond until their sentencing hearings. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. He also settled income taxes he owed going back to 2015. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 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. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. 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. This story is breaking. 2023 FOX Television Stations, resignation went into effect at 10 a.m. Wednesday, he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief. If the special election for the mayors seat requires a runoff election, it will take place June 21. The details of Boones plea deal are similar to the one Lary accepted. The last day Stonecrest residents can register to vote in time for the special election is April 25. FORMER MAYOR ADMITS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. . 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. 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's accomplice pleads guilty to felony 2023