The potential stakes are high for offenders who break new guidelines. He faces a max sentence of 35 years in prison. If you have additional information, pictures, or video email newstipsatlanta@fox.com. "It's time for me to retire from politics and focus on my health," Lary said. Hardworking people like us, Will Morrell said. 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.. 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. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. Prosecutors said the 59-year-old former mayor concocted a scheme to divert funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Lary used three different methods to steal the funds Stonecrest disbursed to MRPC. Lary issued a statement to FOX 5 about the censure: "My frustrations have boiled over with this council. "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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. A locked padlock Inpractice, the Stonecrest Cares Program directed relief funds to churches and non-profit organizations in and around Stonecrest. February 21, 2022 Chris Butler. Per federal rules, Stonecrest officials could only spend these relief funds on necessary expenditures related to . Stonecrest residents that Jones talked to were outraged. Lary and others falsely claimed that the money would be each businesss contribution to Stonecrest-related marketing and advertising. Official websites use .gov He resigned his post on Jan. 4 and accepted a plea deal the next day for concocting the scheme. 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. 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. In return, prosecutors recommended a lighter sentence of 366 days in confinement half in prison and half as home arrest. Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. 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. Cobbles term is set to expire in 2026, so another special election will be necessary. Instead, prosecutors said Lary used the money to cover his own tax liabilities and pay off the mortgage on his lake house. The about-face came in. 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. The judge says Lary's actions were "deplorable" and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. 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. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Lary is due in court to answer for fraud allegations. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal federal pandemic relief funds. Boone is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12. Around October 2021, the United States seized approximately $480,000 of fraud proceeds held in the bank accounts of Visit Us and Battleground Media. For example, Lary used relief funds held by Visit Us to pay for an associates political advertising. 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. If the special election for the mayors seat requires a runoff election, it will take place June 21. The last day Stonecrest residents can register to vote in time for the special election is April 25. 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. 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. BREAKING: 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. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. But he was using it for his own personal needs.. Lary did not disclose he controlled these companies. 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.. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. Lary continued with the meeting after an IT tech fixed the problem. The first is verse 22, "The stone rejected by the builders has become the corner-stone". Erskine told the FOX 5 I-Team he is accused of pocketing more than $650,000. "I ask that you measure me by the whole story," Lary said. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford, Chief of Public Integrity and Civil Rights, is prosecuting the case. Jason Lary received a sentence of four years and nine months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $119,607.69. Lary, 60, pleaded guilty in January to wire fraud, federal program theft and conspiracy to commit federal program theft. . Stonecrest could hold a special election to fill the vacant mayor's seat as early as March. He also settled income taxes he owed going back to 2015. Instead, $108,000 dollars were transferred to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront propertyowned by the former mayor. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. Around the same time, Lary directed approximately $7,600 in stolen relief funds to be used for Boones sons college tuition and rent. 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. 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. The judge says Larys 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. 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. 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. Andrea V. Watson. 2021 5 Feb. "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone" ( Psalm 118:22 ). One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. Boones case matches the legal process used by Jason Lary, the founding mayor of Stonecrest. Until a new mayor is elected, the mayors responsibilities will be handled by the mayor pro tem. The discussion comes after the censure of Stonecrest's mayor for comments he made during a meeting. In court on Wednesday, Lary apologized to his family, friends and Stonecrest residents. In January, Jason Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy on January 5, 2022. They are purposely seeking to tear down everything I have worked to build in Stonecrest. 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. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. 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,. As you can tell with technology, it can be immature and ridiculous, and thats fine, Lary said. 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. "Quite frankly folks, now its turned ugly," he said during a news conference in April 2021. Lary previously denied the accusations of fraud. Stonecrest mayor charged in alleged misuse of CARES Act federal funds Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. 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. 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. His sentencing is set for May 2. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. . Richard B. Russell Federal Building 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. This story is breaking. 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. The U.S. Attorney's Office alleges Mayor Jason Lary misused $6.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I will show you my hairy behind next time it happens and that's the only warning I'm going to give with this.". The population is now 60,000 with a budget of more than $13 million. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Lary is expected to be sentenced on July 13 at 10 a.m. Lary is free on bond. Former Stonecrest mayor sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for stealing COVID-19 relief funds. 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 . 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. Official websites use .gov 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. Sentencing is scheduled for May 12. accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. The relief funds deposited into the Visit Us and Battleground Media accounts were used by Lary to benefit himself and his associates. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. The. Those companies were all connected to Lary. 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. Ronald Bell, who conspired to extort money from Georgia Institute of Technology, has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit extortion. "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. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. In January, Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. 2023 Cox Media Group. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.