STONECREST, Ga. — Editor's note: The video above is from a previous web story.
Former Stonecrest mayor Jason Lary was booked into federal prison Tuesday.
Lary started his 57-month sentence after pleading guilty to federal fraud charges in December of 2022. The 60-year-old pled guilty to charges implicating him in a COVID-19 relief scheme.
In 2020, covid relief money was allocated to the city of Stonecrest. Instead of being used for local initiatives, Lary took $108,000 in covid relief funds and used the money to pay the mortgage on his lakefront property.
Lary’s bookkeeper, Lania Boone, also pled guilty in the case. Boone is believed to have helped Lary wire the money. In exchange, roughly $7,600 was directed to pay for her son's college tuition and rent.
Lary announced his resignation as mayor in January of 2022 and later pled guilty to the charges. Lary, who faced up to 35 years in prison, initially asked for house arrest and community service instead of jail time.
His request was denied and he was given a 57-month sentence. Lary was set to surrender himself to federal agents Dec. 15, 2022, but his date was pushed back to Jan. 10.
Currently, Lary is now one day into his almost five-year sentence. Once he is released from prison, Lary will serve three years of probation.