Brooklyn preacher known for flashy lifestyle found guilty of wire fraud and attempted extortion
A Brooklyn pastor known for his high-profile lifestyle and who bragged about his friendship with the mayor of New York City has been found guilty in federal court of fraud, attempted extortion and lying to the FBI.
NEW YORK — A Brooklyn pastor known for his flashy lifestyle and who bragged about his friendship with the mayor of New York City was found guilty in federal court Monday of fraud, attempted extortion and lying to the FBI.
Lamor Miller-Whitehead, 47, was found guilty of five charges following a trial in federal court in Manhattan that began late last month. Prosecutors had argued that the pastor exaggerated his ties to Mayor Eric Adams and allowed greed to overtake him as he plundered a parishioner’s retirement savings and tried to extort a businessman to fuel his lavish lifestyle.
He was also accused of lying to FBI agents by denying that he had a second cell phone.
An attorney for Miller-Whitehead, Dawn Florio, said they will appeal the verdict. She had told jurors during the trial that evidence against her client did not support the charges.
Miller-Whitehead made headlines in July when armed bandits disrupted his church service and robbed him of $1 million worth of jewelry.
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, New Jersey. He also owned apartment buildings in Hartford, Connecticut.
Prosecutors alleged Miller-Whitehead cheated a parishioner 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.
He was also accused of convincing a businessman to loan him $500,000 and give him a stake in real estate transactions by claiming that his ties to city officials could bring favorable treatment to the businessman’s interests.
Adams grew close to Miller-Whitehead while serving as Brooklyn borough president. Adams, a former police commissioner, has since said he spent decades enforcing the law and expects everyone to follow it.
Sentencing for Miller-Whitehead is scheduled for July 1.