A former mayor of a Georgia city was sentenced to prison for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds, the Justice Department announced on Wednesday.
Jason Lary, the 60-year-old former mayor of Atlanta suburb Stonecrest, used his office to obtain federal funding meant for small businesses and public health expenses during the early days of the pandemic.
The Justice Department said Georgia's DeKalb County gave Stonecrest a $6.2 million grant, which was eventually redirected into private companies formed by Lary.
"Lary betrayed the trust placed in him by the citizens of Stonecrest by stealing the very funds meant to help his constituents weather the COVID-19 pandemic," US Attorney Ryan Buchanan said in a statement.
He continued: "The people of Stonecrest deserved better, and corrupt officials can expect severe consequences for using their offices to commit crimes."
Lary pled guilty in January to conspiracy, wire fraud, and federal program theft.
He was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay nearly $120,000 in restitution.
"This sentencing holds Lary accountable for abusing his position of trust and blatant disrespect for the law," FBI special agent Keri Farley said in a statement.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.