A Brooklyn preacher known for his flashy lifestyle and who boasted of his friendship with New York City’s mayor was found guilty in federal court Monday of wire fraud, attempted extortion and lying to the FBI. NBC New York’s Chris Jose reports.
A Brooklyn preacher known for his flashy lifestyle and who boasted of his friendship with New York City’s mayor was found guilty in federal court Monday of wire fraud, attempted extortion and lying to the FBI.
Lamor Miller-Whitehead, 47, was found guilty of five counts after a trial in federal court in Manhattan that began late last month. Prosecutors had argued that the preacher exaggerated his ties to Mayor Eric Adams and let greed overtake him as he looted a parishioner’s retirement savings and tried to extort a businessman to fuel his lavish lifestyle.
He also was accused of lying to FBI agents by denying he had a second cellphone.
"Whitehead abused the trust placed in him by a parishioner, tried to obtain a fraudulent loan using fake bank records, bullied a businessman for $5,000, tried to defraud him out of far more than that, and lied to federal agents," said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.
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In an Instagram story he posted on Tuesday, Miller-Whitehead said that the FBI asked him to be an informant "against NYC Mayor Eric Adams. And The FBI said they Will Make My Life A Living Hell." He did not elaborate on what the FBI allegedly wanted him to tell them about the mayor.
Adams grew close to Miller-Whitehead while serving as Brooklyn’s borough president. Adams, a former police captain, has since said he spent decades enforcing the law and expects everyone to follow it.
An attorney for Miller-Whitehead, Dawn Florio, said they are appealing the verdict. She had told jurors during the trial that evidence against her client didn't support the charges.
Miller-Whitehead made headlines in July when armed bandits crashed his church service and robbed him of $1 million in jewelry. The jewelry heist was caught on the church's livestream as he was delivering his sermon. One of the men accused in the robbery was killed by U.S. Marshals at a New Jersey hotel in January.
The preacher embraced his flashy lifestyle. He was known for driving around in a Rolls Royce and records show he lived in a $1.6 million home in Paramus, N.J. He also owned apartment buildings in Hartford, Conn.
Prosecutors alleged Miller-Whitehead bilked a parishioner, Pauline Anderson, out of $90,000 in retirement savings by falsely promising he would find her a home and invest the rest in his real estate business. Prosecutors say he instead spent the money on luxury goods and clothing at Louis Vuitton and Foot Locker, and even used her money to make his car payments.
"It’s been a long time coming and we’re very happy to see the verdict was guilt today," said Rasheed Anderson, the victim's son.
He also was accused of trying to convince a businessman to lend him $500,000 and give him a stake in real estate deals by claiming his ties to city officials could earn favorable treatment for the businessman’s interests.
Sentencing for Miller-Whitehead is scheduled for July 1. He faces up to 45 years in prison.
