Former Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary indicted for making false statements to register to vote, qualify for election

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— The former mayor of the City of Stonecrest has been indicted on state charges related to his attempt to register to vote and qualify to run for city council while still under federal supervision for a felony conviction. 

On Tuesday, Oct. 28, a DeKalb County Grand Jury indicted Jason Wallace Lary, Sr., 63, of Stonecrest, on charges of:

·       False Registration; Unlawful Disclosure of Voter Registration Information

·       False Swearing (two counts)

·       Making False Statements in Connection with Filing Notice of Candidacy or Qualifying as a Candidate

Following Lary’s indictment, the DA’s Office secured a Grand Jury warrant for Lary’s arrest.  Through his attorney, Lary notified the DA’s Office that he planned to turn himself into the DeKalb County Jail on Thursday, Oct. 30, and the DA’s Office consented to a bond of $5,000. 

In January 2022, Lary pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of wire fraud, federal program theft, and conspiracy related to the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars of COVID-19 relief funds issued to the City of Stonecrest while he served as mayor.  In July 2022, Lary was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.* 

According to the preliminary investigation, Lary was released from federal custody in February 2025 and began his probation. 

On Aug. 14, Lary registered to vote.  Four days later, Lary filed paperwork to qualify to run for Stonecrest City Council District 5.  As part of his voter registration and candidate qualification paperwork, Lary signed documents affirming that he was not a convicted felon. 

Following formal challenges of Lary’s candidacy by two citizens, the DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections took up the issue during their regular meeting on Sept. 10.  Based on evidence presented in their meeting, the board voted unanimously to disqualify Lary as a city council candidate and to remove him from the voter rolls. 

As a result of that decision, the Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney opened an investigation into Lary’s actions. 

Lary will now be scheduled for an arraignment on the charges against him. 

*For more information on Lary’s federal conviction, visit: http://justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/former-mayor-stonecrest-sentenced-prison-stealing-covid-19-relief-funds