STONECREST, Ga. - The former mayor of Stonecrest is getting back into politics after serving time in prison for stealing COVID-19 relief funds.

Jason Lary has officially qualified to run for Stonecrest City Council in District 5.

The backstory:

In 2022, a federal judge sentenced Lary to 57 months in prison for three counts involving wire fraud, theft of government funds, and conspiracy.

Lary admitted stealing nearly $1 million in relief money by requiring needy Stonecrest churches and businesses to kick back a portion of their grant money to companies he controlled.

As mayor, federal authorities say he took control of who received $6.2 million in CARES Act money and worked behind the scenes with an organization known as Municipal Resource Partners Corporation, Inc. ("MRPC") to dis

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