Official websites use .gov The details of Boones plea deal are similar to the one Lary accepted. The censure stemmed from remarks Mayor Lary made at the end of a council meeting on Sept. 27. 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 directed $7,600 of the federal relief dollars to pay Boones sons college tuition and rent. His legal team is citing his health and lack of criminal record should merit a lighter sentence. 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. Lary and Boone knew the purpose of the transfer was to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront home owned by Lary. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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. Suite 600 The city will hold a special election to select a new mayor. 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. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. He declined to say what type of cancer he is battling but said it seems to be resurfacing for the third time. Lania Boone, Larys co-conspirator, pleaded guilty to conspiracy on February 11, 2022. The government said no marketing was ever done. The indictment alleges that Smith stole more than $450,000 in Social Security Administration Northern District of Georgia His plea came the same morning his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. 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. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. Charles Johnson, Sr., has pleaded guilty for not paying $1.4 million in payroll taxes and for failure to pay employment taxes. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. "If you don't know protocol, you better learn it with me," said Lary. 2021 5 Feb. "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone" ( Psalm 118:22 ). Stonecrest residents that Jones talked to were outraged. 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.. The first mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to the federal charges earlier this year. "It's time for me to retire from politics and focus on my health," Lary said. Lary was also ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution as well. FORMER MAYOR ADMITS ROLE IN COVID RELIEF FRAUD SCHEME. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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. Jason Lary admitted he stole more than $650,000 in CARES Act money that was supposed to help struggling businesses and church. Lary, 60, pleaded. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than. "There was never an interest on anybodys part to kick back or filter money back or any of that nonsense.". Until a new mayor is elected, the mayors responsibilities will be handled by the mayor pro tem. Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. 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. Lary, 60, pleaded guilty in January to wire fraud, federal program theft and conspiracy to commit federal program theft. A Georgia Senator said he was unsurprised to hear about the indictment. The judge says Lary's actions were "deplorable" and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. 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. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. Jason Lary, the former mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty, according to a news release. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal federal pandemic relief funds. "What the mayor said was unacceptable and does not represent city council," said Mayor Pro Tem George Turner. Lary previously denied the accusations of fraud. . 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. 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. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. 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. Charles Johnson, Sr., has pleaded guilty for not paying $1.4 million in payroll taxes and for failure to pay employment taxes. Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to. "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.". 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. 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. Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. Lary issued a statement to FOX 5 about the censure: "My frustrations have boiled over with this council. In January, Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. 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. "Quite frankly folks, now its turned ugly," he said during a news conference in April 2021. 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. 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. Boone, who wrote the bulk of the checks using the stolen funds, agreed with that Friday in court. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. In or about November 2020, Stonecrest published an application on its website for businesses to apply for relief funds under the Small Business Program. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW 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. 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. Hopefully, he gets all of that, Morrell said. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. City leaders have not chosen a specific location for the special election to be held. Lary placed the defendant, Clarence Boone, who was then Senior Economic Development Manager for Stonecrest, in charge of overseeing the Small Business Program. Per federal rules, Stonecrest officials could only spend these relief funds on necessary expenditures related to . DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. 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. As mayor, he took control of who received $6.2 million in CARES Act money. During a struggle to implement new city manager, Lary said he was facing what could be his third battle with cancer. No stone was more important than the cornerstone because the integrity of the whole structure depended on the cornerstone containing . Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. 100 people involved in a total of $26 million in CARES Act fraud. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. Boone is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The City Council voted Monday to set the election date, determine qualifying information and formally ask ask the DeKalb County Board of Registrations and Elections to run the election. 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. Lock "You don't recognize Mayor Pro Tem and council and just leave me standing there like I'm not in the meeting. The. They are purposely seeking to tear down everything I have worked to build in Stonecrest. I let us down, he told the court, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 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.. 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.
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