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. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Earlier this year, Lary pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud, conspiracy and federal program theft for his role in stealing more than $650,000. The last day Stonecrest residents can register to vote in time for the special election is April 25. 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. 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. 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. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. Lania Boone, a bookkeeper Lary hired for one of companies, admitted to helping the former mayor siphon CARES act money for personal use. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. A Georgia Senator said he was unsurprised to hear about the indictment. The judge says Larys actions were deplorable and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. Jason Lary stole more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds meant to help the. "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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor C. Wilmot prosecuted the case. We are putting measures into place to prevent what we experienced during the meeting.. 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. SB 300, also called the Sentencing Reform Act, would rewrite part of Proposition 115, a 1990 ballot initiative that expanded the definition of first-degree murder to include murder committed . By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 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. 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. 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. City leaders have not chosen a specific location for the special election to be held. 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. A lock ( The resolution also adopted a funding plan for most of Stonecrests relief funds. Lary issued a statement to FOX 5 about the censure: "My frustrations have boiled over with this council. "I ask that you measure me by the whole story," Lary said. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. Lary won the mayors race twice, the citys only mayor in its brief history. Lary did not disclose he controlled these companies. 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. In another case, Lary allegedly gave a church $50,000. 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 resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to concocting a fraud scheme to steal more than $650,000 in federal pandemic relief funds. 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. He declined to say what type of cancer he is battling but said it seems to be resurfacing for the third time. The people of Stonecrest deserved better, and corrupt officials can expect severe consequences for using their offices to commit crimes.. The discussion comes after the censure of Stonecrest's mayor for comments he made during a meeting. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges, Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges, Stonecrest mayor appeared in federal court about misusing CARES fund. The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. 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. The potential stakes are high for offenders who break new guidelines. Former Stonecrest mayor pleads guilty to federal fraud charges Former Stonecrest mayor resigns and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. Hardworking people like us, Will Morrell said. 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. 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. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. Those companies were all connected to Lary. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW Stonecrest could hold a special election to fill the vacant mayor's seat as early as March. Boone was the companys bookkeeper and wrote multiple checks to disburse the funds, records show. The government said no marketing was ever done. Suite 600 DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. ", 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. Larys last public address to his constituents delivered one last bombshell moment to his tenure. 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. His plea came the same morning his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. Puede participar en nuestro ensayo sobre EPOC? The plan also provided $5 million to the COVID-19 CARES Act Small Business Program (Small Business Program). 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. His sentencing is set for May 2. Lary previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but his attorney, Dwight Thomas, indicated on Nov. 10 that he would take a plea deal. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justices National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. 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. A locked padlock 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. . He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]. 2022-02-12 - By Zachary Hansen zachary.hansen@ajc.com. Have a question about Government Services? 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. 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. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. "If you don't know protocol, you better learn it with me," said Lary. Author: 11alive.com Published: 6:24 PM EST February 11, 2022 The 60-year-old Lary pleaded guilty in January to fraud and theft charges. Lary asked potential recipients to kickback 25% of their grant to other companies for "marketing" purposes. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Lary, who faces up to 35 years in prison, will be sentenced on May 2. Lary and Boone knew the purpose of the transfer was to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront home owned by Lary. That decision will be made at a later date. I let us down, he told the court, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. 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. Candidates must pay a $600 qualifying fee. 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. Lary placed the defendant, Clarence Boone, who was then Senior Economic Development Manager for Stonecrest, in charge of overseeing the Small Business Program. The relief funds deposited into the Visit Us and Battleground Media accounts were used by Lary to benefit himself and his associates. Official websites use .gov The mayor only votes in the event of a tie a rarity for a five-member City Council. Cobbles term is set to expire in 2026, so another special election will be necessary. Until a new mayor is elected, the mayors responsibilities will be handled by the mayor pro tem. 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. February 21, 2022 Chris Butler. 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. Jason Lary, who announced his resignation as the mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal. Lary, 59, was the first mayor of Stonecrest, a DeKalb County city of about . He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives. His resignation went into effect Wednesday. 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. 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 . Lock Sentencing is scheduled for May 12. "You don't recognize Mayor Pro Tem and council and just leave me standing there like I'm not in the meeting. Stonecrest did not disburse the $6 million allocated to the Stonecrest Cares Program and Small Business Program. his resignation as mayor of Stonecrest became official. The qualification period will take place roughly a month before the election date, and it must end 25 days before the election takes place. 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. Lock 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. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. All rights reserved. The city of Stonecrest could hold a special election as early as March to decide Larys replacement. ATLANTA - After spending nearly a year proclaiming his innocence, former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary admitted masterminding a scheme to steal COVID relief funds. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. A judge will have the final say on her sentencing; her conspiracy charge carries a maximum of five years behind bars. Richard B. Russell Federal Building Check back for details. Main Office: 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. Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. 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. . 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. 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. 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. 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. "Boones guilty plea further demonstrates our commitment to prosecuting those who seek to exploit COVID relief programs for their own gain. 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,. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. As you can tell with technology, it can be immature and ridiculous, and thats fine, Lary said. 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.. Lary also made the defendants wife, Lania Boone, the bookkeeper charged with distributing relief funds. Wilmot said Lary used some of that stolen money to pay off the $108,147 mortgage on his lakefront home in Macon. (FOX 5). Example video title will go here for this video, Should Be Alive Ep. Jason Lary, the former mayor of Stonecrest, pleaded guilty, according to a news release. Lania Boone, Larys co-conspirator, pleaded guilty to conspiracy on February 11, 2022. 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. STONECREST, Ga. Editor's note: The video above is from a previous story. 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. They are purposely seeking to tear down everything I have worked to build in Stonecrest. Lary did not tell Church 1 at this time that he actually controlled REMC. Lary was also ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution as well. Inpractice, the Stonecrest Cares Program directed relief funds to churches and non-profit organizations in and around Stonecrest. 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. In court on Wednesday, Lary apologized to his family, friends and Stonecrest residents. He was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $119,607.69. He then asked the church to give $50,000 back to one of the companies included in the scheme. Lania Boone, 60, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for her role in a scheme to steal federal pandemic relief 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. The 45-minute Zoom call in which he announced his resignation was hacked and briefly displayed a video game and then a brief snippet of pornography. 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. This story is breaking. None the less, I will continue to serve the people of the great city of Stonecrest.". 2023 FOX Television Stations, resignation went into effect at 10 a.m. Wednesday, he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief. STONECREST, Ga. Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges just hours after resigning Wednesday. The judge says Lary's actions were "deplorable" and rejected a defense request for Lary to avoid prison time. It's been five years since a Carroll County man mysteriously disappeared from his home. In a special-called meeting, members of the Stonecrest City Council voted 4-1 to censure Lary. 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. 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. As mayor, he took control of who received $6.2 million in CARES Act money. 2023 FOX Television Stations. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS No stone was more important than the cornerstone because the integrity of the whole structure depended on the cornerstone containing . He does not have to report to prison until Dec. 15, so he can continue treatment for prostate cancer. A bookkeeper was also involved in the scheme and arraigned, records show. On Wednesday, Channel 2s Tom Jones was in the courtroom as Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. Lary is accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds meant to help the people of Stonecrest who he was supposed to serve. In general, according to the Department of the Treasury, relief funds could only be used to cover costs that [were] necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency. Ronald Bell, who conspired to extort money from Georgia Institute of Technology, has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit extortion. Attorneys for the Northern District of Georgia, Former Mayor of Stonecrest sentenced to prison for stealing COVID-19 relief funds, https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form, CEO of Atlanta engineering firm pleads guilty to failing to pay payroll taxes, Arizona man pleads guilty to extorting Georgia Tech, Georgia woman charged with stealing over $450,000 in government and retirement benefits, Former Mayor of Stonecrest Sentenced To Prison For Stealing COVID 19 Relief Funds. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Ronald Bell, who conspired to extort money from Georgia Institute of Technology, has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit extortion. In January, Lary pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program theft and federal program theft. Lary is expected to be sentenced on July 13 at 10 a.m. Stonecrest was required to spend the relief funds in accordance with the CARES Act. 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. As another example, Lary presented a check from MRPC for $50,000 to Church 2. Later, a person acting on Larys behalf told Church 2 to contribute $4,500 of the relief funds to REMC, purportedly for rent assistance. Boone agreed to cooperate with government agents, provide records and testify at future trials. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Those duties include acting as the figurehead of the city and appointing members to boards and committees. 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. This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law.. 2023 Cox Media Group. The details of Boones plea deal are similar to the one Lary accepted. One of the grants was to his church, which he awarded $150,000. WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta facebook feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta twitter feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta instagram feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta youtube feed(Opens a new window), Reality star Honey Boo Boo was inside speeding Dodge Charger involved in chase with Ga. deputies, 49-year-old man shot multiple times during drug deal in northeast Atlanta, police say, A 17-year-old Gwinnett County girl thought she was taking Percocet; now shes dead, Man rescued after being accidentally buried alive in Cherokee County, Our capital city will die: Georgia senators reject proposal to separate Buckhead from Atlanta. 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. DeKalb County then disbursed $6.2 million of these relief funds to Stonecrest. 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. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the only news outlet at the hearing. Jason Lary was accused of stealing more than $650,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. 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. In September 2020, Jason Lary, then the Mayor of Stonecrest, signed a resolution acknowledging these CARES Act requirements. 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. Lary wont be required to report to prison until after Dec. 15, giving him time for more cancer treatments. Lary was arraigned in November 2021, accused of personally profiting from COVID-19 relief money. 2: Person of Interest. His sentencing hearing has been set for May 2. Lary resigned a day before he pleaded guilty to. In September 2020, Jason Lary, the former Mayor of Stonecrest, allocated $5 million of the relief funds to a Small Business Program which would disburse relief funds based on applications submitted by local businesses. Boone, who wrote the bulk of the checks using the stolen funds, agreed with that Friday in court. A locked padlock First, Lary conspired with Boone to steal relief funds before they were disbursed by MRPC. Later in December 2020 and January 2021, Clarence Boone coordinated with Lary and Lania Boone to use $108,155.52 of relief funds to pay off the mortgage on Larys lakefront home in Macon, Georgia, and used more than $7,600 of relief funds to pay college tuition, a meal plan, books, and rent for Clarence Boones son. Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. 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. Jones tried to get a comment from Larys attorney after court, but he refused to make a statement. Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Instead, $108,000 dollars were transferred to pay off the mortgage on a lakefront propertyowned by the former mayor. Lary used three different methods to steal the funds Stonecrest disbursed to MRPC. Lary was supposed to be in office until the end of 2023. Lania Boone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal program theft on February 11, 2022. Last year the Northern District of Georgia US Attorney's office prosecuted at least 100 people involved in a total of $26 million in CARES Act fraud. The city will hold a special election on May 24 to fill the rest of the mayor's term after the office was vacated by Jason Lary in January. The phrase is quoted by Jesus, who applies it to his mission of death and glory, after having told the . The first is verse 22, "The stone rejected by the builders has become the corner-stone". Lary, 60, pleaded. An official website of the United States government. For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. DEKALB COUNTY, GA The former mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty to wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy, reported WAGA-TV. "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.". Lary and others falsely claimed that the money would be each businesss contribution to Stonecrest-related marketing and advertising. 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 . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justices National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.