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NEW YORK (AP) — A Brooklyn preacher recognized for his flashy life-style and who boasted of his friendship with New York Metropolis’s mayor was discovered responsible in federal courtroom Monday of wire fraud, tried extortion and mendacity to the FBI.
Lamor Miller-Whitehead, 47, was discovered responsible of 5 counts after a trial in federal courtroom in Manhattan that started late final 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 financial savings and tried to extort a businessman to gas his lavish life-style.
He additionally was accused of mendacity to FBI brokers by denying he had a second cellphone.
An legal professional for Miller-Whitehead, Daybreak Florio, mentioned they’re interesting the decision. She had informed jurors through the trial that proof towards her shopper did not assist the costs.
Miller-Whitehead made headlines in July when armed bandits crashed his church service and robbed him of $1 million in jewellery.
The preacher embraced his flashy life-style. He was recognized for driving round in a Rolls Royce and information present he lived in a $1.6 million house in Paramus, New Jersey. He additionally owned house buildings in Hartford, Connecticut.
Prosecutors alleged Miller-Whitehead bilked a parishioner out of $90,000 in retirement financial savings by falsely promising he would discover her a house and make investments the remainder in his actual property enterprise. Prosecutors say he as an alternative spent the cash on luxurious items and clothes.
He additionally was accused of attempting to persuade a businessman to lend him $500,000 and provides him a stake in actual property offers by claiming his ties to metropolis officers might earn favorable remedy for the businessman’s pursuits.
Adams grew near Miller-Whitehead whereas serving as Brooklyn’s borough president. Adams, a former police captain, has since mentioned he spent many years implementing the regulation and expects everybody to observe it.
Sentencing for Miller-Whitehead is scheduled for July 1.
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