U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. The censure stemmed from remarks Mayor Lary made at the end of a council meeting on Sept. 27. 2021 5 Feb. "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone" ( Psalm 118:22 ). Jason Lary, the former mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty, according to a news release. A locked padlock At least two candidates have publicly said theyll run to be the citys next mayor. Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to concocting a fraud scheme to steal more than $650,000 in federal pandemic relief funds. Hardworking people like us, Will Morrell said. Both Boone and Lary remain out of jail on bond until their sentencing hearings. A bookkeeper was also involved in the scheme and arraigned, records show. Author: 11alive.com Published: 6:24 PM EST February 11, 2022 As you can tell with technology, it can be immature and ridiculous, and thats fine, Lary said. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. I let us down, he told the court, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Lary won the mayors race twice, the citys only mayor in its brief history. 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. 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. Credit: Photo courtesy of Boston College Athletics, Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges, Stonecrest passes on March election date to replace mayor after guilty fraud plea, Jahmyr Gibbs: Georgia Tech helped make me who I am today, Georgia Tech closes regular season with win over Boston College. 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. Stonecrest could hold a special election to fill the vacant mayor's seat as early as March. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Charles Johnson, Sr., has pleaded guilty for not paying $1.4 million in payroll taxes and for failure to pay employment taxes. He resigned his post on Jan. 4 and accepted a plea deal the next day for concocting the scheme. Lary did not disclose he controlled these companies. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. 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. 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, Clayton County twin sisters make history rising the ranks in Georgia UPS facility, Prominent Roswell restaurant owner charged with sexual crimes involving 2 minors, Families intensify search for two men missing for more than a week, Disneyland banned Rebel Wilson over selfie, actress says, Police issue close to 100 traffic tickets at same Sandy Springs intersection, 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. Larys last public address to his constituents delivered one last bombshell moment to his tenure. Suite 600 2023 Cox Media Group. The people of Stonecrest deserved better, and corrupt officials can expect severe consequences for using their offices to commit crimes., It is extremely disheartening when an elected official, someone sworn to protect the community they serve, violates that oath by stealing relief funds intended to aid their community, said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. If you have additional information, pictures, or video email newstipsatlanta@fox.com. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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 church was then told to contribute $4,500 to REMC, which officials say the mayor used to pay his own property expenses and dues. 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. 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. Suite 600 100 people involved in a total of $26 million in CARES Act fraud. He also settled income taxes he owed going back to 2015. I should've stayed out for several months, but circumstances prevailed where I needed to come back earlier," Lary said. Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. "I did the best I could do with what we had in place.". 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. Puede participar en nuestro ensayo sobre EPOC? The relief funds deposited into the Visit Us and Battleground Media accounts were used by Lary to benefit himself and his associates. Former Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar pleaded guilty Friday to charges of racketeering and tax evasion, admitting that he extorted at least $1.5 million in bribes from real estate . Erskine told the FOX 5 I-Team he is accused of pocketing more than $650,000. As mayor, he took control of who received $6.2 million in CARES Act money. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. 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. Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. Lary wont be required to report to prison until after Dec. 15, giving him time for more cancer treatments. 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. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. Official websites use .gov It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. Then, Lary caused the city to enter a contract with MPRC to disburse the relief funds as directed by Stonecrest. The population is now 60,000 with a budget of more than $13 million. I will show you my hairy behind next time it happens and that's the only warning I'm going to give with this.". We have no response about the Mayors resignation, city officials said. The potential stakes are high for offenders who break new guidelines. However, federal authorities said Lary worked behind the scenes with an organization known as Municipal Resource Partners Corporation, Inc. ("MRPC") to disburse the relief funds. The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. ", 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. 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. 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. This story is breaking. City leaders have not chosen a specific location for the special election to be held. Jason Lary, whose resignation. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The former mayor of Stonecrest and a bookkeeper who administered COVID-19 relief funds to the town pleaded guilty in federal court this month to charges related to the theft of pandemic relief funds. First, Lary conspired with Boone to steal relief funds before they were disbursed by MRPC. The city of Stonecrest could hold a special election as early as March to decide Larys replacement. 2023 FOX Television Stations. Residents will soon get a chance to elect a new mayor in Stonecrest. 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.

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