Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than. 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. 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. 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. Up to $10,000 reward now being offered in finding missing Georgia family man in Baton Rouge, Woman shot near DeKalb gas station; police say person cut her off, pulled out handgun, Forecast | Bright sunshine returns for the weekend, Metro Atlanta, north Georgia hit with widespread damage after storms produce powerful winds, Former Stonecrest mayor, bookkeeper plead guilty to theft of COVID relief funds, Ex-Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges, Stonecrest mayor, who is facing federal charges, says he will resign. 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. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Lary did not tell the businesses that he controlled these entities. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Cobbles term is set to expire in 2026, so another special election will be necessary. The population is now 60,000 with a budget of more than $13 million. In January, Jason Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. I let us down, he told the court, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor C. Wilmot prosecuted the case. 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). 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. She also agreed to pay restitution. Lary announced his resignation to the city on a Zoom call Tuesday. 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. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. "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. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal . Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. 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 judge says Lary's actions were "deplorable" and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The mayor only votes in the event of a tie a rarity for a five-member City Council. The plan provided $1 million to the Stonecrest Cares Program for mask distribution, COVID-19 education and testing, and other purposes. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. February 21, 2022 Chris Butler. 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. "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.". The three conspired to steal and misappropriate relief funds intended for struggling businesses in Stonecrest. Former Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary pleads guilty to federal - WAGA The last day Stonecrest residents can register to vote in time for the special election is April 25. The phrase is quoted by Jesus, who applies it to his mission of death and glory, after having told the . Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. 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. The discussion comes after the censure of Stonecrest's mayor for comments he made during a meeting. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga. 2021 5 Feb. "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone" ( Psalm 118:22 ). 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. 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. The Stone that the Builders Rejected Became the Cornerstone? 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,. 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. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. Lary won the mayors race twice, the citys only mayor in its brief history. The indictment alleges that Smith stole more than $450,000 in Social Security Administration Northern District of Georgia First, Lary conspired with Boone to steal relief funds before they were disbursed by MRPC. His plea came the same morning his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. He's accused of federal fraud related to COVID-19 relief funds. 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. Lary used three different methods to steal the funds Stonecrest disbursed to MRPC. The relief funds deposited into the Visit Us and Battleground Media accounts were used by Lary to benefit himself and his associates. His legal team is citing his health and lack of criminal record should merit a lighter sentence. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW . Official websites use .gov Stonecrest could hold a special election to fill the vacant mayor's seat as early as March. Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. Former mayor asks judge if he can serve sentence from home after Lary wont be required to report to prison until after Dec. 15, giving him time for more cancer treatments. Boone was the companys bookkeeper and wrote multiple checks to disburse the funds, records show. The federal government permitted DeKalb County to further disburse these relief funds to its municipalities. 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. That money was supposed to go to people like us. Lary directed $7,600 of the federal relief dollars to pay Boones sons college tuition and rent. None the less, I will continue to serve the people of the great city of Stonecrest.". his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. A locked padlock Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. Ronald Bell, who conspired to extort money from Georgia Institute of Technology, has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit extortion. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor Wilmot previously prosecuted the case. 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. Lock 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 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. 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 . 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. Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges | AP News 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. 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. Former Stonecrest mayor, bookkeeper plead guilty to theft of - MSN ", 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. In court on Wednesday, Lary apologized to his family, friends and Stonecrest residents. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. The city of Stonecrest could hold a special election as early as March to decide Larys replacement. Library : Stone Rejected Has Become Cornerstone, The Stonecrest sets May election date to replace mayor after guilty - ajc Candidates must pay a $600 qualifying fee. 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. Those duties include acting as the figurehead of the city and appointing members to boards and committees. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 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. The image comes from the ancient quarries where highly-trained stonemasons carefully chose the stones used in construction. Lary, 60, pleaded guilty in January to wire fraud, federal program theft and conspiracy to commit federal program theft. "There was never an interest on anybodys part to kick back or filter money back or any of that nonsense.". A judge will have the final say on her sentencing; her conspiracy charge carries a maximum of five years behind bars. Former Mayor of Stonecrest sentenced to prison for stealing COVID-19 Jason Lary, who announced his resignation as the mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal. Suite 600 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 . STONECREST, Ga. Editor's note: The video above is from a previous story. 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. Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. 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. Lary faces up to 35 years in prison on all three counts. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. Those companies were all connected to Lary. The resolution also adopted a funding plan for most of Stonecrests relief funds. Stone clemency order shows Trump wiped prison sentence, supervised Andrea V. Watson. 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 MAYOR RESPONDS TO ACCUSATIONS OF CARES ACT FUNDS MISUSE. 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.. 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. 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. Erskine told the FOX 5 I-Team he is accused of pocketing more than $650,000. The qualification period will take place roughly a month before the election date, and it must end 25 days before the election takes place. 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. Wilmot said Lary used some of that stolen money to pay off the $108,147 mortgage on his lakefront home in Macon. 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 indictment alleges that Smith stole more than $450,000 in Social Security Administration Northern District of Georgia 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. In September 2020, Jason Lary, then the Mayor of Stonecrest, signed a resolution acknowledging these CARES Act requirements. The censure stemmed from remarks Mayor Lary made at the end of a council meeting on Sept. 27. Deana Timberlake-Wiley, Boones attorney, and federal prosecutors declined to comment. Channel 2s Audrey Washington called and emailed Stonecrest officials about the announcement and the hack. This article originally appeared on the Decatur-Avondale Estates Patch, Reports: 3 children dead, 2 wounded in attack at Texas home, Kellyanne Conway, George Conway To Divorce After Decadeslong Marriage: Report, School punished teen girl for working out in sports bra in 100-degree Texas heat, ACLU says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, 'Extremely dangerous': Spike in illegal crossings at Canada-Vermont border has feds sounding alarm, SoCal in for cool start to weekend, butlight showers make brief return. 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 is due in court to answer for fraud allegations. Former mayor admits role in COVID relief fraud scheme "I ask that you measure me by the whole story," Lary said. That decision will be made at a later date. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. The first mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to the federal charges earlier this year. The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. 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. 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. Bookkeeper admits to role helping former Stonecrest mayor steal COVID Residents will soon get a chance to elect a new mayor in Stonecrest. Former Stonecrest mayor's accomplice pleads guilty to felony - ajc An official website of the United States government. We are putting measures into place to prevent what we experienced during the meeting.. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. Former mayor of metro Atlanta city pleads guilty to fraud "I did the best I could do with what we had in place.". 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. In January, Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. Instead, prosecutors said Lary used the money to cover his own tax liabilities and pay off the mortgage on his lake house. Stonecrest did not disburse the $6 million allocated to the Stonecrest Cares Program and Small Business Program. Stonecrest ex-mayor's cohort pleads guilty in fraud scheme Former Stonecrest mayor sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for stealing COVID-19 relief funds. 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 bookkeeper and spouse of a - DeKalb County News Now | Facebook Now, the sheriff's office is hoping to reignite the search on this cold case. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices.
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